A United Airlines plane was forced to turn around after a passenger tried to practice yoga in the aisle and refused to return to his seat.
The pilot of the Japan-bound jet decided to return to Honolulu when Hyongtae Pae, age 72, allegedly started shouting at members of the crew and pushing his wife.
Pae later told the FBI he didn’t want to stay in his seat during the meal service, so he went to the back of the aircraft to practice yoga and meditate.
He became annoyed when his wife and cabin crew told him to return to his seat and allegedly tried to head-butt and bite US Marines who were travelling on the flight, a Hawaii court hearing was told.
"Pae pushed his wife because she was trying to make him stop. He felt that she was siding with the flight crew," the FBI said in a criminal complaint.
He is also alleged to have threatened to kill passengers.
Magistrate judge Kevin Chang ordered Pae be released on a $25,000 bond on condition he undergoes a mental health evaluation.
Defence lawyer Jin Tae Jim said Pae had recently taken up yoga to help with anxiety.
