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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Coins thrown into plane engine by elderly passenger for 'luck' | Coins thrown into plane engine by elderly passenger for 'luck' |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A superstitious elderly passenger delayed a flight in Shanghai after throwing coins at the engine for good luck, a Chinese airline has confirmed. | 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. | 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. | 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 for several hours. | Of the nine coins launched, only one hit its intended target - but this was enough to force the evacuation of 150 passengers for several hours. |
| Police were called to Shanghai Pudong International Airport after a passenger noticed the woman's bizarre behaviour, apparently aimed at ensuring a safe flight, and alerted authorities. | Police were called to Shanghai Pudong International Airport after a passenger noticed the woman's bizarre behaviour, apparently aimed at ensuring a safe flight, and alerted authorities. |
| The woman, who was travelling with her husband, daughter and son-in-law, was then taken away for questioning by officers, local media report. She will not face charges. | |
| "In order to make sure the flight is safe, China Southern maintenance has conducted a full examination of the plane's engine," China Southern Airlines said in a statement on the microblogging site Weibo. | "In order to make sure the flight is safe, China Southern maintenance has conducted a full examination of the plane's engine," China Southern Airlines said in a statement on the microblogging site Weibo. |
| Police later shared their findings, which had a total value of about 1.7 yuan (£0.20 / $0.25). | |
| "After an investigation the involved passenger, surnamed Qiu, said she threw the coins to pray for safety. According to Qiu's neighbour, Qiu believes in Buddhism," the police said. | "After an investigation the involved passenger, surnamed Qiu, said she threw the coins to pray for safety. According to Qiu's neighbour, Qiu believes in Buddhism," the police said. |
| The flight was eventually given the all-clear and took off at 17:52 local time (09:52 GMT), more than five hours late. | The flight was eventually given the all-clear and took off at 17:52 local time (09:52 GMT), more than five hours late. |
| News of the incident caused a fair amount of turbulence on the social media site Weibo, with one user commenting: "Grandma, this is not a wish fountain with turtles." | News of the incident caused a fair amount of turbulence on the social media site Weibo, with one user commenting: "Grandma, this is not a wish fountain with turtles." |
| China Southern Airlines later urged passengers to comply with civil aviation laws and regulations and avoid behaviour that could prove detrimental to the safety of passengers travelling on its flights. | China Southern Airlines later urged passengers to comply with civil aviation laws and regulations and avoid behaviour that could prove detrimental to the safety of passengers travelling on its flights. |
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