A Japan-bound airplane returned to Hawaii because of a violent passenger who wanted to do yoga instead of sit in his seat.

The pilot of the March 26 United Airlines flight from Honolulu International Airport to Narita International Airport turned the plane around after hearing that Hyongtae Pae was yelling at crew members and shoving his wife, the FBI said in a criminal complaint.

Mr Pae told the FBI 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. He became angry when his wife and flight attendants told him to return to his seat. "Pae pushed his wife because she was trying to make him stop," the complaint said. "He felt that she was siding with the flight crew."

He tried to head-butt and bite Marines who were passengers on the flight and tried to force him back to his seat, Darren Ching, Assistant US Attorney, said at Mr Pae's detention hearing on Wednesday.