A flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou was delayed after an elderly woman passenger was suspected of throwing coins into the plane’s engine to ensure “good luck”.
A flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou was delayed after an elderly woman passenger was suspected of throwing coins into the plane’s engine to ensure “good luck”.
Nine coins were found in the engine, with the captain warning they could have caused engine failure. Photo: Handout
China Southern Airlines Flight 380 was held up at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport after an elderly woman passenger caused a disruption, according to the airlines official WeChat account. An investigation into the incident is under way.
Passengers boarding the flight reportedly saw an elderly woman throwing coins at the engine for “blessings” from the middle of the boarding staircase and alerted the crew.
Ground staff said the woman, who appeared to be about 80 and had limited mobility, was accompanied by her husband, daughter and son-in-law.
Ground crew inspect the engine of China Southern Airlines Flight 380 at Shanghai airport. Photo: Handout
After maintenance crew inspected the aircraft, they found nine coins in one engine.
The captain was quoted as saying the metal, if sucked up by the engine, could have caused serious damage, including failure.
China Southern Airlines told reporters that passengers were reminded to comply with civil aviation laws and regulations, which prohibit behaviour that could jeopardise the safety of the flight.
Another “Good luck” Chinese tourist was in southwestern Yunnan province. She faints in shock after accidentally breaking US$44,000 jade bracelet.
Shop staff show the broken bracelet. Photo: Handout
The woman, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, tried on the bracelet in a shop in the city of Ruili, a major jade trading centre. But when she took it off, it slipped from her hands and broke in two on the tiled floor.
The price for the jadeite bracelet about 300,000 yuan (US$44,110).
After being told the cost of the bracelet, she had a panic attack, made a call to her friends, and told shop staff that she felt dizzy.
As people nearby tried to calm her down, her lips turned pale and she broke out in a cold sweat before suddenly losing consciousness, the report said.
Bystanders attempt to help the woman after she passed out in the jade store. Photo: shanghaidaily
Pictures of her falling into the arms of bystanders have been circulating widely online.
“She fainted because of the shock, but fortunately she is fine after having emergency treatment in hospital” Lin Wei, one of the shop’s owners, was quoted as saying.
Shop owners did not report the incident to the police and said they were negotiating appropriate compensation with the woman based on her financial situation.
The bracelet, along with others on sale in the shop. Photo: Handout
The broken bracelet was valued at 180,000 yuan by a third-party association under government supervision, according to a separate report from the official Yunnan.cn news portal.
Good lucky? Bad Lucky? What do you think?
