Coins thrown at plane to ‘wish a safe flight’

Speakers: Li Ningjing and Sam Duckett

[Photo: Baidu.com]

An elderly woman was taken away by police on June 27^th after she was spotted throwing coins into the engine of an aircraft at Pudong International Airport. She said it was to "wish a safe flight."

The China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou was delayed for more than five hours as the engine was taken apart and examined thoroughly.

The 80-year-old, surnamed Qiu, was about to board the Airbus 320 around noon when she suddenly threw a handful of coins toward the engine.

Qiu was taking the flight with her husband, daughter and son-in-law. 

Mechanics dismantled the engine and the fairing was opened. Mechanics finished their inspection around 4:50pm, finding one coin inside the engine and another eight around it.

China Southern said later in a statement that passengers must abide by civil aviation laws and stipulations and any behavior that might endanger flying safety was prohibited.

The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI.