Restless yoga man ‘interfered with flight’
Print Edition
A tourist accused of becoming violent because he couldn’t do yoga on a plane has pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew.
As part of a plea deal, Hyongtae Pae is expected to be sentenced to time served, which was 12 days, and to pay US$43,600 in restitution to United Airlines.
Pae was heading home to South Korea after a holiday in Hawaii to celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary when his actions last month forced the pilot to turn the Tokyo-bound plane around.
According to court records, 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. Authorities say he refused to return to his seat, threatened crew members and passengers, and shoved his wife.
Through an interpreter on Thursday, Pae told the judge in Korean he acknowledges he “caused others to become fearful” and that “it is correct that they were trying to subdue me and I resisted.”
Pae tried to bite and head-butt two US military members, who were passengers on the flight, when they tried to restrain him, said Assistant US Attorney Darren Ching.
He hadn’t been able to sleep in 11 days and felt “excited,” Pae told authorities after he was arrested.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, but officials are working to expedite the hearing so that Pae can return home sooner.
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