The Korean Air “nut crisis”—which we have written about here and for the Wall Street Journal’s “Crisis of the Week” column—continues to develop, and escalate.
Cho Hyun-ah, the daughter of the airline’s chairman and herself a former executive, has been charged with violating aviation security law and hindering a government investigation. She faces up to 15 years in prison. This follows her much-publicized arrest last week.
Several other employees of Korean Air and public officials also face prosecution.
This rapidly expanding crisis began on December 5, when Ms. Cho humiliated crew members and forced a plane to return to its gate. Public reaction was immediate and heated. The company attempted to respond, but failed to enact measures that matched the severity of public sentiment. As with all executive missteps that escalate into crises, this illustrates the importance of crisis planning. Have a response plan ready. Don’t get caught playing catch-up with incremental measures. Respond early, and conclusively.