A first-time flier who threw coins into a plane engine for good luck has been ordered to pay £13,000 to a Chinese airline.

Twenty-eight-year-old Lu Chao threw the coins to wish for a safe journey as he was boarding a Lucky Air flight from Anqing to Kunming in February 2019.

He admitted to tossing the coins when Lucky Air staff quizzed passengers after finding two one yuan coins on the ground near the left engine. 

The domestic flight was grounded due to safety concerns, and the 162 passengers were flown the next day following a full engine check.

The budget carrier claims the flight cancellation cost in the region of 140,000 yuan (£16,000), and announced legal action would be taken against the passenger.

Mr Lu has been ordered by the Yixiu District People’s Court in Anqing, Anhui province, to pay 120,000 yuan (£13,000) in damages to the Chinese budget carrier Lucky Air, reports the South China Morning Post.

He told the court that Lucky Air should have reminded passengers before boarding that they should not throw coins into plane engines.

It’s not the first time a passenger has attempted to toss coins into an aircraft engine for good luck.

In 2017 there were two separate incidents recorded of elderly women engaging in the practice, one of whom was also flying from Anqing with Lucky Air.

The other passenger, flying from Shanghai to Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines, attempted to throw nine coins into the engine to pray for safety.

Eight missed but one hit the mark, delaying the flight by five hours.

The practice of throwing coins for good luck is associated with some religions such as Buddhism.

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