Korean Air Executive Resigns after Nut Rage Incident

Korean Air has announced the resignation of Heather Cho, a vice-president of the airline and daughter of its chairman, following a nut rage incident that is making the rounds on social media.

Cho, who was seated in first class on Flight KE086 bound from New York to Incheon on Friday, reportedly told off a junior flight attendant for offering her bagged macadamia nuts instead of nuts served on a plate. She ordered the chief flight attendant to bring out the correct in-flight service manual, and when he can't find it immediately, demanded him to leave the plane, The Korea Times reported.

The flight arrived at Incheon International Airport in South Korea 11 minutes behind schedule since it was forced to return to the gate at John F. Kennedy airport in New York City. 

The airline has apologized for the incident, but stated that Cho had the support of the pilot, writes BBC News. 

Korean Air had defended her actions as an attempt to improve the quality of customer service, as Cho was responsible for the carrier's in flight service.

Transportation authorities are looking into the incident to determine whether Cho has violated the Aviation Safety Law.

"Even though she is senior vice president at the company, she was a passenger at that time, so she had to behave and be treated as a passenger. She could have taken other measures after coming back to Korea, such as strengthening service training," said a South Korea transport ministry official.