A Seoul court sentenced a former vice president of Korea Airlines Co. to one year in prison Thursday for obstructing aviation safety by ordering a taxiing plane to return to the gate over in-flight service in December.

Cho Hyun-ah, the eldest daughter of the chairman of South Korea's largest full-service carrier, faced five counts of charges: changing the air route of a flight, violence leading to obstruction of aviation safety, intimidation, obstruction of business and obstruction of justice through deception.

The first, changing the air route, carries the heaviest penalty of up to nine years in prison with no option of suspension.

Cho was convicted of the charge despite her wish to receive a suspended jail term. Prior to the ruling, she had submitted six letters of apology to the judges to avoid imprisonment.

"It is questionable whether Cho truly feels remorseful," Judge Oh Seong-woo said in the ruling. "The so-called 'nut rage' case trampled on the integrity of humanity."

On Dec. 5, Cho ordered a senior crew member to de-plane after being served her macadamia nuts in an unopened bag instead of on a plate. The Seoul-bound flight from New York had already been taxiing when she had it return to the gate.

The news outraged the South Korean public, leading her to step down as vice president of cabin service four days later.

Prosecutors said Cho had also tried to exert influence over the transport ministry's probe into the case.

Cho had pleaded innocence, arguing the airport runway should not be considered part of the "air route." She claimed she had ordered the chief steward off the plane because he did not have the service manual thoroughly memorized.

Prosecutors had sought a prison term of three years for Cho. (Yonhap)

Korean Language

'땅콩회항' 조현아 징역 1년 선고

대한항공 상무 징역 8월·국토부 조사관은 집유



'땅콩 회항' 사태로 물의를 빚은 조현아 전 부사장에게 실형이 선고됐다.



서울서부지법 제12형사부(오성우 부장판사)는 12일 항공보안법 위반 등 혐의로 구속기소된 조 전 부사장에 대해 징역 1년을 선고했다.



재판부는 함께 기소된 여모(58) 대한항공 객실승무본부 상무에 대해서도 징역 8월을 선고했다.



김모(55) 국토교통부 조사관은 집행유예가 선고됐다. (연합뉴스)