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Korean Air chief apologizes to steward allegedly assaulted by his daughter

January 30, 2015

Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Korean Air Lines Co., answers questions from reporters before entering the Seoul Western District Court to attend the second hearing of the so-called “nut rage” trial on Jan. 30, 2015. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — The chairman of Korean Air Lines Co. apologized to a chief steward forced off a taxiing plane by his eldest daughter over in-flight service during the second hearing of the so-called “nut rage” trial on Friday.

“I feel greatly sorry for what he underwent and apologize as Korean Air chairman,” said Cho Yang-ho, speaking in his capacity as a witness at the Seoul Western District Court.

Cho then promised “no disadvantage” would befall the senior crew member, who was allegedly assaulted by his daughter and then forced off the Seoul-bound Korean Air flight from New York last month.

“I promise in this court not to give any disadvantage to him if he wants to keep working,” Cho said. “As the Korean Air CEO, I’ll take every measure necessary to help our employees work hard.”

Cho Hyun-ah, the chairman’s eldest daughter who at that time served as vice president of the country’s largest full-service carrier, was accused of obstructing aviation safety after the incident. She reportedly ordered the crew member to deplane over the way her macadamia nuts were served — in an unopened pack instead of on a plate — aboard the taxiing Korean Air flight on Dec. 5. She was angry because she believed the crew did not follow the proper procedure for serving nuts to first-class passengers.

The flight subsequently returned to the gate to deplane the purser, causing an 11-minute delay in its arrival at Seoul’s main gateway, Incheon International Airport, causing a national uproar in South Korea. More than 250 passengers were on board.

The daughter resigned as a vice president of cabin service four days after the incident.

Another witness who appeared at Friday’s hearing was the female flight attendant who had served the nuts to Cho. It marks the first time the woman, identified only by her surname Kim, has made a public appearance.

She stated that the company contacted her mother after the incident made headlines with an offer for a position as a professor if the flight attendant testified in favor of the company. She said she did not accept.

“Around the middle of last month, a company official telephoned my mother and said that the former vice president Cho wanted to visit me to offer an apology,” Kim said. “They then told my mother that I would have the chance to work as a professor if I cooperate with her…But I stayed away from home for four days to avoid her because I had no intention of accepting the apology.”