A South Korean court has approved the arrest of a former Korean Air Lines executive who delayed a flight in what has widely been called "nut rage".

Seoul Western District Court said it had granted a warrant to arrest Cho Hyun-ah, 40, citing concerns that she might destroy evidence or flee.

She resigned as vice president of Korean Air amid public anger that she forced a plane to return to its gate in New York to remove the chief flight attendant because she was angry that macadamia nuts were served in a bag instead of on a plate.

Witnesses said she assaulted and insulted cabin crew members in the incident on December 5.

The arrest comes as Korean Air faces government sanctions for allegedly trying to cover up the incident.