Passenger’s yoga diverts plane route

April 01, 2016 12:23
Passenger’s yoga diverts plane route

After a passenger insisted on doing yoga in the galley in defiance of the crew, an airliner flying from Hawaii to Japan was forced to turn back and land in Honolulu.
 
Earlier in the week, 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 Airlines flight 903 bound for Tokyo’s Narita airport.

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

Pae agitated, pushing his wife, when she tried to persuade him to sit down.

Several US Marines on place, supported him to get on to the seat, said Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Tom Simon, a spokesman for the agency`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," Simon 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," Simon said.

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

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

Pae was released on bail of USD 25,000 later, 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.

By Phani Ch

If you enjoyed this Post, Sign up for Newsletter

(And get daily dose of political, entertainment news straight to your inbox)

Rate This Article
(0 votes)
Tagged Under :
Yoga  Japan  World news