① Coins were thrown into the airplane engine
In China, it is common to throw coins for good luck. This happens when visiting famous temples throwing coins at statues, wells, ponds, and museums. Coins are often seen piled up around exhibits related to Buddhism and fossilized spirits. If you visit a famous place in China, you may see a sign asking, ‘Please do not throw coins.’
This behavior of the Chinese has extended to airplanes. Chinese people throw coins into the engine before the plane takes off to wish for safety. This action is causing headaches for airlines. In February 2019, a 28-year-old man named Lu Chao boarded Lucky Air from Anqing, Anhui Province, China, to Kunming.
He threw two one-yuan coins onto the plane’s wing as he boarded. The coins thrown by Lu Chao went into the jet engine under the plane’s wing.
A passenger who saw the young man’s behavior informed the flight attendant. As a result, the flight was canceled due to safety issues. A coin entering the engine can cause engine damage and threaten safety. It’s a very dangerous act that can lead to a major accident.
The 160 passengers on board at that time had no choice but to take another plane. The airline had to arrange accommodations and alternative flights for passengers due to the cancellation of the flight. This resulted in costs of about $17,000. The passengers suffered damage due to Mr. Lu’s actions, and the airline suffered significant costs. He was taken to the police on charges of disturbing public order and was detained for ten days.
② The passenger who had to pay $17,000
Lucky Air filed a damage claim lawsuit against Lu Chao. They claimed they suffered more than $17,000 in damages due to Lu Chao’s actions.
However, he protested his innocence. He made the absurd claim that the airline should have informed him beforehand that he should not throw coins. He also claimed he had no financial means to pay $17,000, but the court sided with the airline. The court ordered Lu Chao to pay about $17,000 in damages.
This is the second verdict on the act of throwing coins at airplanes. In fact, in China, it is common for passengers to throw coins when boarding airplanes.
③ A common occurrence in China
In 2017, a passenger who boarded Shenzhen Airlines threw coins into the airplane engine and was sued. The court then ordered the passenger to pay damages worth $7,000. In June and October of the same year, older people threw coins into the airplane engine, causing flight delays.
In 2019, a medical student caused controversy by throwing coins. After arriving at his destination, this passenger threw coins between the plane and the boarding bridge. No one saw him throwing the coins when he was getting off, but an investigation began when an airport official found three coins on the runway. Surveillance footage confirmed that a man was seen throwing coins.
The man explained, “I threw the coins to wish for my young niece’s health as she suffered from diarrhea during the flight, as is the custom in my hometown.” No particular damage occurred as he threw the coins after the flight ended, and he paid a fine of about $34.
A Chinese woman threw six coins between the boarding gate and the trap while boarding China Southern Airlines from Nanning, China, to Bangkok, Thailand. The airline crew who saw this collected all the coins and conducted a safety check. As a result, the plane was delayed for 78 minutes. The woman was detained for seven days and claimed she didn’t know because it was her first time on a plane.
As passengers throwing coins into the airplane engines increased, Sanya International Airport on Hainan Island posted a warning not to throw coins at airplanes. The warning stated, “Throwing coins at airplanes to wish for luck is an illegal act that harms safety and eats away at luck.” Despite the airport’s guidance not to throw coins at airplanes, the practice has not been eradicated.
Most passengers who throw coins at airplanes claim to do so to wish for safety. However, it’s strange that they are doing something that can cause danger due to the superstition of ‘lucky coin tossing.’ Throwing coins into the airplane engine is considered a severe problem, occurring as many as five times a year. Not only the individuals but also other passengers and airlines are suffering.
By. Seo Sung Min
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