Korean Air exec charged in nut case, could face 15 years in prison

If the former Korean Air Lines executive famous for throwing a crew member off her flight after he offered macadamia nuts in a bag is found guilty of all four charges against her, she could face up to 15 years in prison.

Cho Hyun-ah is being charged in South Korea with forcing a flight to change its normal route, violence against the flight crew, hindering a government probe, and forcing the flight's purser off the plane, The Associated Press reports. Witnesses say that on Dec. 5, 2014, Cho, whose father is chairman of Korean Air Lines, hurled insults at the crew, threw something against the cabin wall, and forced the crew to kneel in front of her.

At the time of the incident, Cho was the vice president overseeing cabin service. Since then, her father has removed her from all posts at the company, and apologized for not raising her right.

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