The over-privileged daughter of Korean Air’s boss was found guilty of violating aviation safety law in the notorious “nut case” and sentenced to a year in jail yesterday.

Cho Hyun Ah, who was a Korean Air executive vice-president at the time, was also charged with obstructing justice and assaulting a member of the cabin crew. Prosecutors had demanded a three-year jail term.

The charges stemmed from an incident in which Ms Cho forced the chief purser off a KAL flight, forcing the taxiing plane to return to the gate so he could disembark.

She had taken exception to being served macadamia nuts in a bag, rather than a bowl.

Ms Cho had pleaded not guilty to assaulting the chief steward by making him kneel and beg forgiveness while jabbing him with a service manual.

She has been forced to resign from all her posts and publicly apologise.