South Korean prosecutors have charged Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-Ah with causing a safety hazard on a flight following a “nut rage” incident that sparked a national uproar.

Cho, daughter of the airline’s boss and herself a KAL executive at the time, ordered the chief purser off a December 5 New York-Seoul flight and compelled the taxiing plane to return to the terminal gate so he could disembark.

She had taken exception to being served macadamia nuts which she had not requested – and in a bag, not a bowl.

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“The plane was forced to change its planned line of movement and the chief purser, who was on duty to ensure flight safety, had to leave the plane, causing safety hazards,” senior prosecutor Kim Chang-Hee told journalists.

“Korean Air staff were mobilised in attempts to eliminate and tamper with evidence” by fabricating statements in order to get Cho off the hook, he said.

Cho is charged with forcing the flight to change its planned movements and using violence against crew members, as well as obstructing official duties by leading the company’s attempts to cover up the incident.

If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison but legal experts say she would likely draw a suspended sentence.

Cho, 40, was arrested and jailed on Tuesday last week after a local court issued a warrant.

She has been sharing a cell at a Seoul detention centre.

Cho has publicly apologised for the incident and resigned from her posts at Korean Air and its affiliates.

Prosecutors also brought charges against a Korean Air executive surnamed Yeo for his alleged involvement in Korean Air’s attempts to eliminate evidence.

A transportation ministry official who leaked details of a government probe into the case to Yeo was also indicted.