Add CategoryA TOP executive of Korean Air Lines has resigned amid mounting public criticism after she delayed a plane over how she was served macadamia nuts.
Company officials said Chairman Cho Yang-ho had accepted the resignation of Cho Hyun-ah, his eldest daughter and an executive vice president.
Ms Cho was under public fire following media revelations a recent Korean Air Lines flight from New York to South Korea returned to the gate because she ordered a senior crew member off the plane just minutes from takeoff at JFK airport on Friday.
Flight delayed ... Cho Hyun-ah has resigned after ordering a crew member off a flight for serving bagged nuts in the first class cabin. Picture: AP Photo/Yonhap Source: AP
Ms Cho was angered she was served bagged macadamia nuts instead of nuts on a small plate, which was protocol.
The airline had apologised for inconveniencing passengers. But it also said it was “natural†for Ms Cho to fault crew’s ignorance of procedures.
Ms Cho maintained that the purser was responsible for the crew failing to follow the airline service manual correctly, and should therefore leave the plane, the airline said.
The incident garnered substantial media attention and public criticism of Ms Cho’s action.
One ministry official told AFP that Ms Cho’s action had been “totally inappropriateâ€.
Outcry ... Korean Air faced a public backlash over the incident. Picture: AFP Source: AFP
Seoul’s main opposition party also called for a thorough probe, saying the daughter of Korean Air CEO Cho Yang-Ho had a responsibility to protect the airline’s image.
“Why did she have to make all that fuss because of some stupid macadamia nuts?†the New Politics Alliance for Democracy said.
“She soiled the reputation of our flag carrier,†it said.