Flight cancelled as New Year fire lantern gets stuck to engine

A Bangkok Airways cancelled one of its flights over the New Year period, when technicians discovered a traditional fire lantern stuck to one engine, reported AsiaOne.

Airbus A320 had flown into Chiang Mai airport and was scheduled to return to the capital. As the plane taxied to its stand, lanterns were spotted floating over the airport and one had got stuck in one its engines.

Fire lanterns are small paper balloons usually powered by a candle which are traditionally released by Thais during festivals and celebrations.

Earlier, in October, several flights from Chiang Mai had to be cancelled during a festival because lanterns drifted into the airport's airspace.