It’s not uncommon to see people throwing coins in a fountain for good luck, but this may be the first time someone has tried the same trick with an airplane.
An 80-year-old woman in China was responsible for a 5 hour delay after she grounded an airplane with nothing more than a fist full of pocket change.
The woman had stopped on the tarmac before boarding to “bless” the plane with her coins. Concerned passengers noticed what she was doing and called the airline staff for help.
Before she could be stopped, the woman tossed at least nine coins at the turbine engine of the Guangzhou-bound aircraft.
One of the coins made it’s way inside the engine, which grounded the plane until a full diagnostic was performed. The air crew was concerened that the loose coin could cause damage to the engine should it be sucked farther inside.
After 5 hours of work, the plane was finally cleared for takeoff. According to the Daily Mail, police said the passenger known as “Mrs. Qiu” was throwing the coins “to pray for safety.”