Updated

The former Korean Air executive famous for an inflight tantrum over macadamia nuts pleaded not guilty to violating aviation safety law and other charges.

Lawyers for Cho Hyun-ah did not dispute the major elements of the prosecutor's account of events Dec. 5 when Cho's behavior resulted in a Korean Air jet returning to the gate. Instead they are focusing on a technical rebuttal of the aviation law charge.

Cho spend most of the first day of her trial Monday with her head lowered and hair covering her face. She declined to make any comments when invited to by the judge.

Cho achieved worldwide notoriety by kicking a crew member off the Dec. 5 flight after being offered macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of on a dish.