THE 80-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER who threw a handful of coins at one of the engines of a plane she was boarding in Shanghai, because she believed it would bring good luck and ensure a safe flight, had her punishment of five days administrative detention remitted because of her age. Thepaper.cn comments:

The decision sparked heated discussion. Many people said the woman should be punished because of the potentially serious consequences of her behavior and to deter others from doing anything similarly foolish.

But in their investigation of the case, the Shanghai police have not abused their power and they made the decision to release the woman according to the law.

As she did not intend to damage the plane and her behavior caused no serious consequences thanks to the airport staff's efforts, the woman, rather than being subject to the Criminal Law, was only subject to the Security Administrative Punishment Law, which stipulates that a punishment can be remitted if the offender is over 70 years old.

Thus people should not continue to press the public security departments to punish the woman.

In fact, the airline and airport would be justified in prosecuting the woman's three family members who were boarding the plane with her at that moment for not stopping her from throwing the coins, and they could demand compensation for the economic losses they suffered. But the airline and airport should make the decision whether to prosecute them or not on their own, instead of bending to the pressure of public opinion.