Korean Air Lines Co. Vice President Cho Hyun-Ah
Former Korean Air Lines Co. Vice President Heather Cho (C), leaves the Seoul western prosecutors' office as she is transferred to a detention house on December 30, 2014 in Seoul, South Korea. Cho resigned as vice president after it was reported she had delayed a flight from take off and insisted that the plane return to the gate after being served a package of macadamia nuts. Getty Images

The daughter of the Korean Air chairman on trial after a "nut rage" incident during a flight treated the flight crew like "feudal slaves," a chief steward said in court on Monday (2 February).

Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho's daughter Heather Cho is facing a trial for breaking aviation laws.

[Cho] was like a beast that found its prey gritting its teeth as she became abusive, not listening to what I had to say at all. I don't think Cho showed an ounce of conscience, treating powerless people like myself like feudal slaves, forcing us to sacrifice and treating it as if it was the natural thing to do.
- Park Chang-jin, chief steward

She is also accused of conspiring with company executives to forcefully convince crew members to lie about the 5 December incident, dubbed as the "nut rage" episode.

Cho had demanded chief steward, Park Chang-jin, to be taken off from a flight at New York's John F. Kennedy airport after she was served her macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a dish.

Due to Cho's nut rage, the plane that was already taxiing had to return to the gate.

Fighting back tears, chief steward Park said in court: "[Cho] was like a beast that found its prey gritting its teeth as she became abusive, not listening to what I had to say at all.

"I don't think Cho showed an ounce of conscience, treating powerless people like myself like feudal slaves, forcing us to sacrifice and treating it as if it was the natural thing to do."

Park further said that Cho forced him to kneel down and poked his palm several times with a folder, according to a Reuters report.

While prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Cho if she is convicted, Cho's lawyers are fighting against the punishment and denying she was violent.

While Cho has reportedly told the Seoul court that she is apologetic about her behaviour, she has reaffirmed the cabin crew did not follow proper procedures.

Following the public outrage over the incident, Cho was forced to resign from her position as the vice-president of Korean Air.

Cho's father has also apologised to Park in court on Friday (30 January).

Cho Yang-Ho
Cho Yang-Ho, Korean Air Chairman & CEO arrives at the Seoul Western District Court on January 30, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. The chairman of Korean Air Lines Co. Cho Yang-ho appeared in court as a witness in the trial over his eldest daughter Cho Hyun-ah's alleged obstruction of aviation safety in the 'nut rage' incident. Getty Images