'Coin Tossed Wishing for Safe Flight' Causes Over 4-Hour Delay on Chinese Flight

Passenger Who Tossed Coin Immediately Arrested by Airport Police

A flight in China was delayed for more than four hours due to a passenger throwing coins into the airplane engine. Throwing coins into airplane engines is known as a gesture by Chinese people to wish for good luck.

A China Southern Airlines flight attendant is asking a passenger if they threw a coin toward the airplane engine.
[Image source: Screenshot from the official website of Beijing Youth Daily, China]

On the 8th, the US CNN network reported, citing local Chinese media, that China Southern Airlines flight CZ8805 was originally scheduled to depart from Sanya, Hainan Province to Beijing at 10 a.m. on the 6th, but only took off at 2:16 p.m. The delay was explained as being caused by a passenger who was caught throwing several coins toward the engine while boarding the aircraft.

The identity of the passenger has not been disclosed. The passenger admitted to the crew's questioning, saying, "I threw 3 to 5 coins," and was immediately removed from the aircraft and taken into custody by airport police. China Southern Airlines stated, "The crew discovered the passenger throwing coins at the airplane," but added, "After a comprehensive safety inspection by the aircraft maintenance staff, it was determined that there were no safety issues before takeoff." They also warned, "Throwing coins at airplanes poses a threat to aviation safety and may result in various levels of punishment."

In recent years, incidents have repeatedly occurred in China where people throw coins at airplanes as a wish for good luck and safe flights, causing operational disruptions. In October last year, a passenger was seen throwing coins at a plane in Guangzhou, causing a delay in a China Southern Airlines flight. In 2021, several coins wrapped in red paper were found on the ground between Weifang and Haikou on a GX Airlines flight, resulting in cancellation. In 2017, a passenger also threw coins at a China Southern Airlines plane while boarding at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.