Plane Turns Back After Passenger Does Yoga In Galley

A United Airlines flight from Hawaii to Japan was forced to turn back and land in Honolulu after a passenger insisted on doing yoga in the galley in defiance of the crew, an FBI spokesman said.

Hyongtae Pae, 72, was charged in federal court with interfering with the crew of an aircraft in connection with the disturbance last Saturday aboard United flight UA903 bound for Tokyo's Narita airport.

Pae reportedly ignored crew instructions and, during meal service, went to the galley to "meditate and do yoga," according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

When his wife tried to persuade him to sit down, Pae reportedly grew agitated, pushing her and yelling.

Several US Marines who were on the plane helped the crew escort Pae to his seat, said a spokesman for the FBI's Honolulu office.

"While yoga and meditation can be beneficial activities, it doesn't negate the need to obey flight crew instructions while in the air," the spokesman said.

"The fact that the defendant's alleged misconduct caused the flight to be turned around in the air gives you an idea of the seriousness of this situation."

Pae, a retired farmer, was going home to South Korea, via Japan, and was sleep-deprived after his first visit to Hawaii, his attorney, JT Kim said.

"He was trying to calm himself down," Kim said. "I guess that's why he wanted to do some yoga, to calm himself down."

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Pae released on bail of USD$25,000, but told him to turn over his South Korean passport and stay on the island of Oahu.

If convicted, Pae faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.