Coins were tossed at the engine of a Lucky Air A319 (reg. B-6198) during boarding.
Ground crew later found coins lying on the tarmac next to the plane, according to various statements by the airline, airport authorities, and transport police.
A 76-year-old woman was subsequently taken into custody, transport police said. It was not clear whether she would face charges. Lucky Air is under the Hainan Airlines group.
The flight #8L9960 which was to depart Anqing for the city of Kunming in southwestern China, was grounded overnight as a safety precaution.
The incident occurred on Wednesday (Oct 18) at the airport in the city of Anqing in eastern China’s Anhui province, according to authorities, and was at least the second such report this year of a safety scare caused by a coin-tossing elderly Chinese.