'Violent' passenger arrested after doing yoga, meditating on plane

Japan-bound flight returns to Hawaii after Hyongtae Pae becomes angry when asked to return to his seat.

A Japan-bound airplane returned to Hawaii because of a violent passenger who wanted to do youga instead of sit in his seat.

The pilot of the March 26 United Airlines flight from Honolulu International Airport to Narita International Airport turned the plane around after hearing that Hyongtae Pae was yelling at crew members and shoving his wife, the FBI said in a criminal complaint.

Mr Pae told the FBI he didn't want to sit in his seat during the meal service, so he went to the back of the plane to do yoga and meditate. He became angry when his wife and flight attendants told him to return to his seat. "Pae pushed his wife because she was trying to make him stop," the complaint said. "He felt that she was siding with the flight crew."

He tried to head-butt and bite Marines who were passengers on the flight and tried to force him back to his seat, Darren Ching, Assistant US Attorney, said at Mr Pae's detention hearing on Wednesday.

According to the complaint, he threatened to kill passengers and was yelling that there is no god.

Mr Pae went into a rage because he felt the flight crew was ordering him around, Mr Ching said.

Mr Ching said Mr Pae shouldn't be released because he's a danger to his wife, himself and others. Mr Pae urinated on himself and was on suicide watch at the Honolulu Federal Detention Centre, Mr Ching said.

US Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang ordered that Mr Pae be released on $25,000 (£17,000) bond, but with certain conditions including not leaving the island of Oahu and undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Since the arrest, Mr Pae's wife has been staying at the Waikiki Gateway Hotel, defence attorney Jin Tae "J.T." Kim told the judge, who asked whether Mr Pae had financial resources to continue staying there after his release. Mr Kim said he's working with the consulate to transfer more money to Mr Pae's wife and find alternate, temporary housing.

Mr Chang denied the defence lawyer's request to allow Mr Pae to return home to South Korea, because that would involve getting on a plane again.

Outside of court, the lawyer said his client is a 72-year-old retired farmer who travelled from South Korea to celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary with a Hawaii holiday. It was the couple's first trip to Hawaii.

Mr Pae only recently took up yoga to help with anxiety, Kim said, adding that he was sleep-deprived during the vacation. Mr Pae told the FBI he hadn't been able to sleep in 11 days.