A South Korean court sentenced the daughter of Korean Air Lines' chairman to one year in prison after finding her guilty over an on-board incident in New York concerning the way she was served nuts in first class.

Heather Cho, daughter of Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho and the former head of in-flight service, violated the law by ordering the plane to return to the gate after it started to taxi on December 5.

Cho had demanded the flight crew chief be expelled from the flight after a first class stewardess served her macadamia nuts in a bag and not on a dish. The plane which had started to move away from the gate had to return.

"This is a case where human dignity was trampled upon," Judge Oh Sung-woo said on Thursday.

Prosecutors sought a three-year prison term if she was convicted of breaking aviation law and another charge.

The crew chief testified in court this month that Cho behaved "like a beast" and treated the crew "like slaves," as she became abusive towards them in the incident.  - Reuters