On a routine Tuesday at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, an 80-year-old Buddhist devotee surnamed Qiu paused while boarding China Southern Airlines Flight CZ380. As her family watched, she drew nine coins from her pocket and flung them toward the Airbus A320’s engine. One coin vanished into the turbine—a gesture meant to bless the flight. Instead, it triggered a five-hour evacuation of 150 passengers and a full engine inspection .
The High Cost of “Good Luck”
Qiu’s ritual reflects a deep-rooted cultural practice: tossing coins into fountains or sacred sites to invite prosperity or protection. But as aviation authorities emphasize, jet engines are not wishing wells. Police later confirmed Qiu believed the act would ensure a safe journey—a conviction shared by others:
- In 2021, a passenger wrapped coins in red paper (a symbol of luck) and threw them into an engine in Weifang, canceling a flight for 148 people
- In March 2024, another China Southern flight from Sanya delayed takeoff for four hours after coins were found near an engine
- Social media reactions ranged from concern to dark humor: “Grandma, this is not a wish fountain with turtles,” commented one Weibo user .
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Why One Coin Grounds an Entire Plane
Jet engines operate under extremes: temperatures exceeding 1,500°C and fan speeds of 3,000 RPM. Even a tiny object can become a deadly projectile.
The physics of disaster:
- Suction force: A idling jet engine generates enough vacuum to lift 11 tons vertically
- Impact energy: A coin ingested at takeoff power can fracture turbine blades, disrupt airflow, or trigger explosions
- Hidden threats: A single coin may lodge invisibly, causing metal fatigue or mid-flight failure
Table: Real-World Impacts of Coin Tossing Incidents
| Year | Location | Delay/Cost | Coins Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Shanghai | 5 hours, 150 passengers evacuated | 1 from engine, 8 on ground |
| 2021 | Weifang | Flight canceled (148 passengers) | Multiple in red paper |
| 2024 | Sanya | 4+ hours | “Three to five” admitted by passenger |
The Domino Effect on Aviation Operations
When Qiu’s coin disappeared into the engine, protocols snapped into place:
- Evacuation: All passengers deplaned immediately
- Inspection: Maintenance crews performed boroscope exams to locate the coin
- Risk assessment: Engineers evaluated whether disassembly was needed (costing $50,000–$100,000)
- Safety clearance: Only after confirming no residual threats could the flight depart
Foreign Object Debris (FOD) programs exist precisely for this threat. As one manual states: “Never leave tools or items near turbine intakes. Exhaust can propel objects with enough force to damage anything hit” .
Bridging Culture and Safety
Airlines now confront a delicate challenge: respecting cultural beliefs while preventing sabotage-by-superstition. China Southern’s response typifies this balance:
- Publicly denounced “uncivilized behaviors” on social media
- Avoided prosecuting Qiu (citing age and intent) but highlighted legal consequences
- Stepped up pre-boarding announcements and tarmac surveillance
Airports like Shanghai Pudong now deploy:
- Behavioral monitors: Staff watching for unusual passenger actions near aircraft
- Multilingual warnings: Signage explaining FOD dangers in religious/cultural contexts
- Rapid-response FOD teams: Equipped with magnetic sweepers and engine inspection tools
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The Unseen Risks Beyond Coins
Coin tosses make headlines, but lesser-known FOD hazards abound:
- Loose tools: A wrench left on a wing caused a $4 million engine failure in 2022
- Wildlife: Bird strikes cost aviation $1.2 billion yearly
- Pavement debris: Bolts or rocks catapulted by jet blast can puncture fuel tanks
Preventative tech is advancing:
- AI cameras: Scanning engine intakes during boarding
- FOD-detection radar: Deployed along runways in Dubai and Singapore
- Magnetic mats: Catching ferrous objects during maintenance
Awareness Over Superstition
Qiu’s story ended without tragedy—just frustration and delay. But it underscores aviation’s fragile interdependence: one person’s ritual can jeopardize hundreds. As global air travel rebounds, education remains key. Passengers must internalize a new mantra: Blessings belong in temples, not turbines.
The next time you board a flight, glance at the engine’s intricate blades. Imagine a coin colliding with them at 1,000 mph. Then ask yourself: is luck worth betting 300 lives on?