Nuts tantrum exec pleads not guilty

The former Korean Air executive famous for an inflight tantrum over macadamia nuts has pleaded not guilty to violating aviation safety law and other charges.

Lawyers for Cho Hyun-ah did not dispute the major elements of the prosecutor’s account of events on December 5 when her behaviour resulted in a Korean Air jet returning to the gate. Instead they are focusing on a technical rebuttal of the aviation law charge.

Cho spent most of the first day of her trial with her head lowered and hair covering her face. She declined to comment when invited to by the judge.