Ex-Korean Air VP challenges aviation law violation at 'nut rage' case
By KH디지털2Published : April 2, 2015 - 08:58
A former Korean Air executive, who gained global notoriety for throwing a fit on a taxiing plane last year, challenged Wednesday a lower court ruling that she had violated aviation laws.
Cho Hyun-ah was found guilty in February of forcing the chief steward off a Korean Air flight departing from New York on Dec. 5 because she was served nuts in an unopened bag instead of on a plate.
A lower court convicted her of two counts of aviation law violation -- changing the planned route of a flight and violence leading to obstruction of aviation safety -- in addition to intimidating the head of cabin crew and obstructing the airline's business. But she was acquitted of obstructing a government probe into the incident.
Both the prosecutors and her attorneys have filed for an appeal.
A noticeably enfeebled Cho appeared at the first appellate hearing, which took place in a packed Seoul High Court room.
She pleaded guilty to the latter two charges but said she wasn't guilty of changing the route of the flight.
"Cho acknowledges her act of violence and asks for the victims' forgiveness," her attorney said. "But it's not fair to say she obstructed aviation safety or changed the route of the flight."
Cho's lawyers said the taxiway shouldn't be considered part of the "route of a flight," which is not clearly defined in the aviation law.
Meanwhile, prosecutors called for a heavier punishment for Cho, who they said abused her authority as the executive member of South Korea's largest full-service carrier.
"It's questionable whether she actually feels sorry," a prosecutor told the judges. Cho had initially said she ordered the flight back to the gate because she was "doing her job as the vice president."
In a green prison uniform and wearing black horn-rimmed glasses, Cho asked for leniency.
"I ask for the victims' forgiveness," she said in a barely audible voice. "I am deeply sorry for what I did."
Her attorneys said she has suffered emotionally during her three months in a detention center. They had earlier told local media that Cho was missing her twin boys, who just turned 1. (Yonhap)
Cho Hyun-ah was found guilty in February of forcing the chief steward off a Korean Air flight departing from New York on Dec. 5 because she was served nuts in an unopened bag instead of on a plate.
A lower court convicted her of two counts of aviation law violation -- changing the planned route of a flight and violence leading to obstruction of aviation safety -- in addition to intimidating the head of cabin crew and obstructing the airline's business. But she was acquitted of obstructing a government probe into the incident.
Both the prosecutors and her attorneys have filed for an appeal.
A noticeably enfeebled Cho appeared at the first appellate hearing, which took place in a packed Seoul High Court room.
She pleaded guilty to the latter two charges but said she wasn't guilty of changing the route of the flight.
"Cho acknowledges her act of violence and asks for the victims' forgiveness," her attorney said. "But it's not fair to say she obstructed aviation safety or changed the route of the flight."
Cho's lawyers said the taxiway shouldn't be considered part of the "route of a flight," which is not clearly defined in the aviation law.
Meanwhile, prosecutors called for a heavier punishment for Cho, who they said abused her authority as the executive member of South Korea's largest full-service carrier.
"It's questionable whether she actually feels sorry," a prosecutor told the judges. Cho had initially said she ordered the flight back to the gate because she was "doing her job as the vice president."
In a green prison uniform and wearing black horn-rimmed glasses, Cho asked for leniency.
"I ask for the victims' forgiveness," she said in a barely audible voice. "I am deeply sorry for what I did."
Her attorneys said she has suffered emotionally during her three months in a detention center. They had earlier told local media that Cho was missing her twin boys, who just turned 1. (Yonhap)