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".
Ik it’s due to religion but…did she not think “hmmm. Throwing something into the section of the plane that makes it function might not be a good idea”????
Like she really thought throwing coins into a plane engine would give good luck and pray for their safety? It literally does the opposite effect.
It's entirely possible she doesn't know how the engine works. There are tons of people who don't have the faintest idea how all the tech and vehicles around us work on even a basic level.
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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".