Elderly woman delays flight by throwing coins into jet engine for good luck

Mechanics were forced to conduct a full inspection of the turbine

Officials examine the aircraft engine after an elderly woman threw in coins for good luck (Facebook/China People's Daily)

A flight in China was delayed for five hours after an elderly passenger threw coins into the aircraft’s engine for good luck.

The 80-year-old passenger, surnamed Qiu, was boarding the China Southern Airlines flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou with her family when she stopped to make the ‘blessings’.

Then she threw nine coins at the aircraft’s engine turbine. Concerned fellow passengers alerted airline staff.

It prompted a full examination of the engine, which in turn led to the evacuation of 150 passengers. The flight was delayed the flight for five hours.

Eight of the coins missed but one landed inside the engine, airport officials told the Agence France Presse news agency.

Crew expressed concern over the potential damage a single coin could make if sucked into the mechanism.

The woman was later detained by police, the airline said on social media.

"After investigation the involved passenger surnamed Qiu said she threw the coins to pray for safety. According to Qiu's neighbour, Qiu believes in Buddhism."