BEIJING: Grandma delays flight with ‘lucky’ coin-throw into engine

A superstitious elderly passenger delayed a flight in Shanghai after throwing coins at the engine for good luck, a Chinese airline has confirmed. The 80-year-old woman threw her change at the China Southern Airlines flight as she crossed the tarmac to board. She told police she launched the coins as she “prayed for safety” on […]

A superstitious elderly passenger delayed a flight in Shanghai after throwing coins at the engine for good luck, a Chinese airline has confirmed. The 80-year-old woman threw her change at the China Southern Airlines flight as she crossed the tarmac to board. She told police she launched the coins as she “prayed for safety” on Tuesday.

Of the nine coins launched, only one hit its intended target – but this was enough to force the evacuation of 150 passengers. The flight eventually took off at 6:16 p.m. and arrived at its destination more than five hours late. The woman, surnamed Qiu had no criminal record or mental disease.