Cho Hyun-ah has announced her resignation from Korean Air Lines on Tuesday after she was criticized by South Korea's citizens for ejecting a member of the cabin crew from a plane, according to Fox News.
The 40-year-old Cho is the eldest daughter of Cho Yang-ho, the chairman of the airline company. Before her resignation, she served as Korean Air Lines' vice president for its cabin service.
The incident occurred on Friday as a Korean Air Lines flight was preparing to depart New York and fly to Incheon, South Korea, New York Times reported.
Cho, who was a first-class passenger of the plane, was infuriated after seeing crew members serving bagged macadamia nuts. She then called the head of the plane's cabin service and said the nuts should be served on a plate.
The two argued in front of the other first-class passengers before Cho ordered the crew member to leave the plane. This caused the flight to be delayed by about 20 minutes. Korean Air Lines confirmed on Dec. 5 that the flight's delay was caused by the argument between Cho and the crew member.
The incident outraged citizens because it demonstrates how members of chaebol, or South Korean corporations controlled by affluent families, tend to abuse their power and social status to get what they want. Others pointed out that by kicking the crew member off the plane and delaying the flight, Cho has ignored safety protocols and potentially endangered the flight's passengers.
"The anger and the concern from the public were so big because safety procedures related to important services were simply ignored [due to Cho's status]," civic group People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy said in a statement.
South Korea's transport ministry stated that its officials are currently investigating the matter to see if the former executive's behavior violation certain aviation laws, according to the BBC.
A representative from the agency told the press that despite her status, Cho should have behaved properly inside the plane since she was a passenger.
"Even though she is senior vice president at the company, she was a passenger at that time, so she had to behave and be treated as a passenger," the official commented.
