Cho Hyun-ah, daughter of chairman of Korean Air Lines, Cho Yang-ho, arrives at the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office in Seoul. (Reuters)
The former Korean Air executive famous for an inflight tantrum over macadamia nuts 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 Cho's behavior resulted in a Korean Air jet returning to the gate. Instead they are focusing on a technical rebuttal of the aviation law charge.
Cho spend most of the first day of her trial today with her head lowered and hair covering her face. She declined to make any comments when invited to by the judge.
Cho achieved worldwide notoriety by kicking a crew member off the December 5 flight after being offered macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of on a dish.