Seoul , South Korea ( CNN ) A former Korean Air executive who sparked outrage earlier this month by kicking a flight attendant off a plane for serving macadamia nuts the wrong way is being detained by police in Seoul . Heather Cho , the 40-year-old daughter of Korean Air 's chairman , is in the South Seoul Detention Facility , the Seoul Western District Prosecutor 's Office said . Officials gave no other details , other than the investigation into the incident is ongoing . A spokesman for the office , Lee Kwang-woo , said an arrest warrant was approved because `` the necessity was recognized because of the graveness of the case and there was an attempt to systematically cover up the charges since the beginning of the incident . '' Cho resigned from her post as a vice president at the company in the aftermath of the incident earlier this month on a flight from New York 's JFK airport to South Korea 's Incheon International Airport . She ordered that the plane turn back to the gate and that a flight attendant be removed because she was served nuts in a bag instead of on a plate in first class . Although her role put her in charge of in-flight service , Cho was a passenger and was not flying in an official capacity . Amid public anger over her behavior , she and her father both apologized for the incident . Cho , whose Korean name is Cho Hyun-ah , said she accepted `` full responsibility '' for what happened . Last week , prosecutors said an arrest warrant might cover charges of violating aviation safety rules , including a change in a flight plan , assault on a plane , coercion and interference in the execution of duty . The warrant was approved Tuesday night . When contacted by CNN , the press office for Korean Air said it had no comment on the latest development . 'Violent language ' Testimony from crew members and passengers confirmed that Cho used `` violent language in a loud voice , '' which may not be compliant with an aviation safety law that requires cooperation of passengers on a flight , the Ministry of Land , Infrastructure and Transport said earlier this month . The captain of the plane has also faced criticism for obeying Cho 's demands to turn back the plane and remove the flight attendant . The airline faces possible disciplinary action from the government because of the captain 's failure to command and supervise crew members to ensure the safe operation of the flight , the ministry said last week . CNN 's Jethro Mullen and Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report .
Prosecutors get an arrest warrant Tuesday morning . President Cho ordered a Korean Air plane back to the gate in early April . She protested after a flight attendant served nuts in a bag instead of on a tray . She later apologized and resigned from her role as vice president .