KAL had ministry spies during nut-rage probe

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a decision Monday to punish eight of its officials in charge of investigating the “nut rage” case, in which Korean Air Lines (KAL) Vice President Cho Hyun-ah delayed a New York-Seoul flight by 11 minutes because an attendant gave her macadamia nuts in a bag, not on a plate.

The officials were allegedly leaking information to KAL during the investigation.

An aviation safety superintendent surnamed Kim will be subject to severe punishment for providing details of the investigation to a director of KAL. Kim was arrested for leaking official secrets. Severe punishment can include sacking, demotion or suspension.

The chiefs of the flight safety department and the aviation security department and another aviation safety superintendent will receive punishments equivalent to salary reductions and reprimands.

BY PARK YUNA [ypc3c@joongang.co.kr]