Man arrested for yoga airplane altercation pleads guilty
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hyongtae Pae stands outside the federal courthouse in Honolulu today, after pleading guilty to interfering with a flight crew. Authorities say he became violent after wanting to do yoga instead of sit in his seat during a flight from Honolulu to Tokyo last month.
A tourist accused of becoming violent because he couldn’t do yoga on a plane pleaded guilty today to interfering with a flight crew.
As part of a plea deal, Hyongtae Pae is expected to be sentenced to time served, which was about 12 days, and to pay about $43,600 in restitution to United Airlines.
Pae was headed home to South Korea after a Hawaii vacation 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, 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 U.S. military members who was passengers on the flight trying to restrain him, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Ching.
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He hadn’t been able to sleep in 11 days and felt “excited,” Pae told authorities after he was arrested.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang previously allowed Pae to be released, but prevented him from returning home.
On Thursday, Pae’s attorney, Jin Tae “JT” Kim, asked the judge to revoke the release so that Pae can return to the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. Pae has run out of money to continue staying in Honolulu and can’t afford to see a doctor to refill medication, which is running out, Kim explained.
Chang denied the request and asked that Pae work with court officials to figure out an alternative to incarceration.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, but officials are working to expedite the hearing so that Pae can return home sooner.
Medication has improved Pae’s mental state and he’s well-rested, Kim said.
15 responses to “Man arrested for yoga airplane altercation pleads guilty”
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Just send Mr. Pae on his way home as quick as possible. His wife, if he still has one when he returns, will deal with him.
What kind of medication is this guy on that prevented him from sleeping for 11 days? Maybe his doctor should prescribe sleeping pills instead.
Too bad the “two military members who was passengers” didn’t put him to sleep then and there.
Typical of many Koreans I have associated with my whole life – stubborn and rude (until they are called on something or caught in the act, then they put on that fake humbleness thing).
Cut, pasted and saved for the very next time you complain about someone’s homophobic comments.
Well, that’s a giant non sequitur.
Not sleeping for 11 days, sounds like a manic depressant to me. Sad the the judicial system doesn’t recognize mental health issues.
Dude is seriously whacked out. Usually those Koreans have bad tempers too, so that combination will lead to berserk syndrome, especially when combined with having to be stuck in a confined area for several hours. Good luck trying to get him home on a plane. Maybe they need to ship him back home instead.
I bet he is on a no fly list. Put him on a fishing boat, lots of Korean boats at Honolulu Harbour under jurisdiction of Customs Border Protection.
By the way, why can’t the Hawaii Visitors Aloha Society help him out? They probably can find this guy a place to stay instead of having to sleep out in the park with the homeless.
https://visitoralohasocietyofhawaii.org/
Sleepless for eleven days? Abnormal sleeping pattern indicates mental illness or drug involvement like “meth”! Probably an abuser too and a frighten wife unable to handle his “strong personality”! Prison will keep the public free from a menace like him and relief for his family!
yes but not a U.S. prison, I don’t want to pay for him .We are too generous to prisoners.
40th anniversary all for naught. Feel for his wife who has to bear the burnt of the events that ensued. Macho manifestations do not work outside your turf, he soon found out. Country hick who was unaware of his environment. Sad.
he can catch up on his sleep in jail. lol
He’s over 60……… He’ll never pay off the 43K fine