The daughter of Korean Air's chairman has resigned from her posts at the airline after being heavily criticised over a first-class row – about nuts.
Cho Hyun-ah delayed a flight from New York to Incheon, South Korea, after forcing the captain to return to the gate so the most senior cabin crew member, the chief purser, could be removed from the plane.
Ms Cho, who was vice president responsible for cabin service at the family-run airline, reportedly took exception to the arrival of some macadamia nuts served in a packet rather than a bowl.
She called over the chief purser who, according to an earlier Korean Air statement, replied with "lies and excuses" when challenged over his crew's knowledge of inflight service procedures. Cho, who was sitting in first class, then decided the chief purser was "incapable" and the plane taxied back to the gate at New York's JFK Airport where he disembarked, causing a delay of around 10 minutes.
Her behaviour on last Friday's flight caused an uproar in South Korea, where she was accused of being petty and arrogant.
"This ugly behaviour by the Korean Air boss' daughter puts the entire nation to shame," Seoul's top business daily, the Maeil Business Newspaper, said in an editorial.
"This is a global embarrassment for South Korea… Korean Air should punish Cho, and she should apologise to the public for disregarding passengers' safety," it said.
The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper said Cho's action had exposed the "sense of entitlement and supercilious attitude" prevalent among the rich.
"Apparently some members of owner families like Cho see their companies like their own kingdom," it added.
After her resignation, the 40-year-old, who joined Korean Air in 1999, issued a statement through the airline.
"I feel so sorry for our customers and South Koreans for causing such trouble … and seek forgiveness from the people who might have been hurt by me," Ms Cho said.
"I will resign from all my posts at Korean Air to take responsibility for the incident," she was quoted as saying.
Her father, Korean Air tycoon Cho Yang-ho, accepted her resignation immediately.
But a Korean Air spokesman later said Ms Cho would keep her title of vice president even though she no longer holds any official role. It is not clear whether she would hold any responsibilities in the future.
South Korea's biggest airline earlier apologised for causing "inconvenience" for passengers but defended Ms Cho's actions as a "reasonable" move to improve inflight service.
The government said it is investigating whether Ms Cho violated any aviation safety laws.
Jogger maps out marriage proposal
A Portsmouth jogger proposed to his girlfriend by spelling out 'Will You Marry Me' with his GPS running app.
Ben Chudley, 28, used the app to track his progress around the city's streets before posting the route on Facebook.
His girlfriend Olivia Abdul saw it and accepted his proposal, reports the BBC.
Chudley, who has also drawn dinosaurs and cartoon characters in the same way, said the idea was "very me".
He explained he had carefully planned his route using online mapping and run the 5.71 mile (9km) route.
Chudley told his girlfriend he was going out for a run before posting the map on Facebook and returning, with flowers and a ring, to hear her response.
He admitted posting it publically "could have been very embarrassing if she had said no".
Chudley started a Facebook group of similar 'drawings' after noticing that one of his routes "looked a bit rude".
In the past he has attempted a seahorse, dinosaur and Spongebob Squarepants but said Portsmouth's regular street layout made lettering more straightforward.
Woman reaches South Pole on a tractor
A Dutch actress and adventurer has reached the South Pole after 17 days driving across Antarctica on a tractor.
Manon Ossevoort, 38, aka Tractor Girl, drove across the frozen continent on a Massey Ferguson MF 5610 tractor.
Overcome with emotion at reaching her goal, Manon hugged the tractor when she arrived and celebrated with her team.
"Wow! I've made it!" she said. "To have dreams is beautiful but to see them realised is the most extraordinary feeling. I'm inspired."
Her Antarctica2 expedition was the final chapter in a journey that previously saw her drive a tractor 38,000 km from her home in Hollland across Europe and Africa to Cape Town.
Reporting live from the ice, the team confirmed: "After 17 days and 2,500 kilometres, we are at a red and white striped pole with a reflective ball on top, surrounded by flags.
"This is South 90 – as far South as anybody can go. It's unbelievable at the South Pole there is a red Massey Ferguson tractor! "
They travelled in constant daylight, driving for 23 hours or more at a time and only breaking for maintenance or driver changeover.
Facing hostile Antarctic conditions including crevasse fields, punishing solid ice-waves and solar storms, the team coped with altitude sickness and temperatures of -56C.
After a day's rest at the South Pole, the Antarctica2 team set out on their return journey to Novo Runway on the Antarctic coast.
Post published in: World News