Korean Air chairman sorry for daughter's nut rage

Image
AP Seoul
Last Updated : Dec 12 2014 | 1:26 PM IST
The chairman of Korean Air Lines Co today apologized for the behavior of his adult daughter who delayed a flight in an incident now dubbed "nut rage."
Cho Yang-ho made a deep bow before journalists in response to simmering public anger over his daughter's over-mighty attitude and the airline's handling of it.
Cho Hyun-ah, who was head of cabin service at Korean Air, was angered when a flight attendant in first class offered her macadamia nuts in a bag, not on a plate. She ordered a senior crew member off the plane, forcing it to return to the gate at John F. Kennedy airport in New York City.
Cho Yang-ho called his daughter's behavior foolish and says he regrets he didn't raise her better. "It's my fault," he said. "As chairman and father, I ask for the public's generous forgiveness."
Shortly after her father's apology, Cho Hyun-ah also made a deep bow in her first public appearance since the Dec. 5 incident. She was meeting with transport ministry officials who are investigating whether she violated aviation safety law.
Clad in a long black coat, she lowered her head as she made brief comments before droves of journalists without making eye contact. Her trembling voice was inaudible on a live television broadcast.
Her actions caused uproar in South Korea and abroad. South Korean media called the 40-year-old a princess and some Koreans said she was an international embarrassment to her country.
In a separate probe, prosecutors searched the headquarters of Korean Air Lines yesterday after a civil society group laid a complaint about Cho's behavior on the plane.
Korean Air Lines had earlier excused her behavior even as it apologized for inconveniencing passengers.
Earlier this week, Cho resigned as Korean Air's head of cabin service but retained other executive roles at the airline and its affiliated companies. Her father today said she is resigning from executive roles at all affiliates of Hanjin, the group that controls Korean Air.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Dec 12 2014 | 1:26 PM IST

Next Story