Korean Air exec apologises after nuts incident sparks national outrage

SEOUL, (Reuters) – The former Korean Air Lines executive who delayed a flight because she was unhappy with the way she was served macadamia nuts apologised yesterday over the incident, which fuelled outrage and ridicule in South Korea.

Heather Cho, the daughter of the airline’s chairman and head of in-flight service before she stepped down from the post this week, also said she would apologise to the cabin crew chief, who had been ordered to disembark, delaying the flight.

Heather Cho
Heather Cho

“I will apologise sincerely… in person,” Cho said in response to a question by a reporter as she arrived at a transportation ministry office where she was expected to answer questions about last Friday’s incident at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Dressed in black, Cho, 40, emerged from a black Hyundai sedan at a building near Gimpo Inter-national Airport. She stood before cameras but looked towards the ground as snow fell, her voice barely audible.

“I sincerely apologise for causing trouble for everyone. I’m sorry,” she said. “I will truthfully answer questions,” said Cho, who is also under a separate investigation by local prosecutors following a complaint filed by a civic group that accused her of breaking multiple laws.