Heather Cho, also known as Hyun-ah, was jailed for one year, avoiding a possible maximum sentence of 10 years.

Cho had forced her Seoul-bound plane to turn back to the gate and offload a steward because she did not like the way she had been served nuts.

The case garnered global interest and caused an uproar in South Korea.

Cho, who was a vice-president with the airline, was found guilty of obstructing aviation safety.

'Private plane'

Her plane was taxiing at New York's JFK Airport on 5 December when witnesses say she became angry after being served macadamia nuts she did not ask for and which were still in a bag and not in a bowl.

She ordered the plane to return to the gate and offload the chief steward.

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

Cho had treated the flight "as if it was her own private plane", Judge Oh added. "It is doubtful that the way the nuts were served was so wrong."

The judge said Cho has failed to show enough remorse even after she submitted letters to the court apologising for the incident.

(BBC News)