Prosecutors quiz Heather Cho

By Kim Rahn

Prosecutors questioned former Korean Air Senior Vice President Heather Cho Wednesday over the “nut rage” incident that has generated headlines around the world.

The prosecution said it is considering whether to seek an arrest warrant for Cho, 40, the daughter of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, as early as today.

She presented herself at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office at 1:50 p.m. to undergo questioning.

Standing in front of a pack of reporters and TV cameras, teary-eyed Cho kept her head lowered and said, “I’m sorry.” She remained silent in the face of a barrage of questions from reporters.

The summons followed a civic group’s petition against Cho, who allegedly ordered flight KE086 bound for Incheon from New York to return to the gate from a taxiing area at JFK International Airport on Dec. 5 so that a chief flight attendant could be removed from the plane.

She did so because she was angry at a junior attendant who served her a packet of macadamia nuts without removing them from their bag and presenting them on a plate.

Charges against her may include violations of the aviation law as well as interference in business by abusing her authority.

Cho could face up to five years in prison. Separate from the prosecution’s probe, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also indicated Tuesday that it may suspend Korean Air’s flights to New York as part of punitive measures.

The ministry’s aviation safety inspection team confirmed earlier that she used abusive language and yelled at flight attendants.

During the questioning, prosecutors focused on whether she used physical violence.

According to testimony from chief flight attendant Park Chang-jin, other crewmembers and a passenger who was in the first-class part of the plane along with Cho, she pushed Park on the shoulder to the wall of the cabin and hit the back of Park’s hand with the case of a service manual booklet.

Cho denies the allegation, which would be against the aviation safety law that prohibits violence endangering flight safety.

“We are reviewing whether her behavior was against the law. If the law cannot be applied, we may charge her for just violence, not specifically related to flight safety,” said a prosecutor.

Prosecutors also quizzed her about whether she directly ordered the return of the flight. In the ministry’s earlier inspection, Cho claimed she did not order the return, but told Park to get off. Others involved also testified that Park, not Cho, asked the pilot to return to the gate.

“But Park’s request to the pilot apparently came from pressure from Cho. We are examining that her pressure constitutes interference with business by authority,” said the prosecutor.

Prosecutors also questioned her over whether she was involved in Korean Air executives’ alleged attempt to urge flight attendants to give false testimony favorable to Cho. If the attempts are proven true, the executives may also be indicted.