Photo by Tim Wood
Remember the "Nut Rage" lady? The Korean Air vice president whose meltdown over how nuts were served on her airline resulted in a criminal conviction in South Korea?
Well her actions have resulted in a revised, strengthened aviation law in her home country, according to The Guardian.
Under the new law, anyone who disturbs the pilot during a flight could face up to five years in prison or a fine equivalent to $41,370 in U.S. dollars. There had been a similar law in place prior to the nut rage incident, but it did not carry the hefty fine - only up to about $4,000 in penalties - and it did not come with the threat of jail.
According to the Guardian, crew members must also now hand over unruly passengers to authorities or face their own fine.
READ MORE: Korean Air VP Charged in 'Nut Rage' Incident
"The amended law reflects mounting public demand for enhanced aviation safety and the prevention of unruly behaviour during flight following the Korean Air nut rage incident," the ministry said in a press release.
All of this came as a result of the actions of Heather Cho Hyun-Ah in December 2014. The incident aboard a Korean Air flight scheduled to leave JFK International in New York for Seoul happened as Cho was given macadamia nuts as a snack while the plane was boarding and eventually began to pull back from the gate. The flight attendant did not ask Cho if she wanted the nuts, and they were given to her still in the bag and not served on a plate, as per Korean Air protocol.
Cho then asked to see the chief flight attendant and told him to bring out the procedure manual. When he failed to find the guide, and gave Cho what Korean Air said in a statement were "lies and excuses" to questions she had, Cho had the taxiing stop and ordered the plane returned to the gate - and the chief flight attendant removed.
READ MORE: Flight Attendant Files Suit in 'Nut Rage' Case
If anybody would know about proper service procedures on the airline, it would be Cho. She was Korean Air's manager for catering and in-flight sales business, cabin service and hotel business divisions - and the daughter of the CEO.
Cho served five months in jail before an appeals court overturned her conviction for violating aviation safety laws.
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