Lucky Coins Grounded Chinese Flights

In 2017, two Chinese passengers separately threw coins toward aircraft engines before takeoff, believing the gesture would ensure a safe journey. In June, an 80-year-old woman identified by her surname Qiu delayed China Southern Airlines Flight 380 from Shanghai to Guangzhou for more than five hours after mechanics recovered nine coins, including one from inside the engine. In October, a 76-year-old woman repeated the ritual at Anqing airport, forcing a Lucky Air flight to Kunming to remain grounded overnight and prompting police to detain her.

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