Behave well when you fly
A POSCO Energy executive, surnamed Wang, is drawing fierce criticism for his misconduct for swiping the Korean Air flight attendant with a magazine after pestering her with quality of service. / Korea Tims file
POSCO executive’s naughty act an etiquette reminder
By Kim Jae-won
An incident of in-flight harassment of a Korean Air flight attendant by a POSCO Energy executive serves not just as a reminder of etiquette but what is illegal.
The 53-year-old executive, surnamed Wang, is drawing fierce criticism for hitting an attendant with a magazine after pestering her about the quality of service.
According to air travel experts, the executive violated regulations stipulated by the Aerospace Security Law, which prohibits passengers from assaulting, verbally abusing or yelling in an aircraft for the safety of other passengers.
Smoking, assaulting others after drinking and actions of sexual harassment are also banned on flights, according to the law.
“These are basic rules for passengers. Those actions are strictly prohibited onboard by the law because it can pose severe danger for the safety of all passengers,” said a spokesperson for Korean Air.
Experts say if passengers violate these rules, they are subject to prosecution and face severe punishment, sometimes even harsher than for offenses committed on land.
By law, those who threaten the safety of an aircraft or passengers by assault or threats are subject to up to 10 years imprisonment.
Those who attempt to enter the flight deck or disobey flight attendants’ instructions can face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to 10 million won.
POSCO Energy said Monday it had suspended the executive from his duty and will punish him further as soon as the results of its own investigation come out.
Korean Air said the nation’s biggest carrier has no intention to file a lawsuit against the POSCO Energy executive.
However, the company did not rule out the possibility of the attendant taking legal action against the executive, who hit her with a magazine and verbally abused her onboard a flight from Incheon to Los Angeles on April 15.
“We do not plan to file a lawsuit against him at this point. We do not think the case is serious enough to do so,” said a spokeswoman for Korean Air.
“In terms of the attendant, she may or may not file a lawsuit. We do not know her decision yet.”