80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN THROWS COINS INTO PLANE ENGINE FOR LUCK

SHANGHAI: A superstitious passenger delayed a flight from here for several hours yesterday after throwing coins at the plane’s engine for good luck, Chinese officials said.

The elderly woman was detained by police at Shanghai Pudong International Airport following the bizarre incident, forcing nearly 150 passengers to be evacuated from the plane bound for Guangzhou in southern China.

The 80-year-old threw nine coins at an engine of China Southern Airlines flight CZ380 as she was boarding on the tarmac.

Eight of the coins missed their target but one nestled inside an engine, airport police said, adding that a passenger spotted her doing it and reported it to authorities.

The elderly woman was travelling with her husband, daughter and son-in-law, Beijing Youth Daily said.

“A senior passenger threw coins at the plane’s engine and delayed the flight,” China Southern Airlines said China Southern Airlines said on its Twitter-like Weibo account.

“The passenger involved has been taken away by police.

“In order to make sure the flight is safe, China Southern maintenance has conducted a full examination of the plane’s engine.”

The incident was soon trending on Weibo and police added in a statement: “After investigations the passenger involved, surnamed Qiu, said she threw the coins to pray for safety.”

Hundreds of thousands of Weibo users had a field day, with one commenting sarcastically: “Grandma, this is not a wish fountain with turtles.” AFP