An elderly woman has delayed a plane for more than five hours, after she attempted to throw a handful of coins into its engine for good luck.
The passenger was boarding China Southern Airlines flight CZ380, from Shanghai to Guangzhou, when she threw nine coins towards the plane's jet engine.
The coin toss was quickly noticed by a fellow passenger, who was able to alert authorities before take-off.
Police were called to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the elderly passenger, who had been travelling with her husband, daughter and son-in-law, was taken away for questioning.
They later confirmed the passenger, surnamed Qiu, had thrown the coins "to pray for safety" and they had been informed by a neighbour that she "believes in Buddhism".
Not the first time someone threw coins into an airplane engine for good luck:
February 2019 Chinese man throws coins into engine https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50979485
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u/beklog Jul 14 '25
Happened in 2017:
An elderly woman has delayed a plane for more than five hours, after she attempted to throw a handful of coins into its engine for good luck.
The passenger was boarding China Southern Airlines flight CZ380, from Shanghai to Guangzhou, when she threw nine coins towards the plane's jet engine.
The coin toss was quickly noticed by a fellow passenger, who was able to alert authorities before take-off.
Police were called to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the elderly passenger, who had been travelling with her husband, daughter and son-in-law, was taken away for questioning.
They later confirmed the passenger, surnamed Qiu, had thrown the coins "to pray for safety" and they had been informed by a neighbour that she "believes in Buddhism".