Lax checks led to 'chaotic incidents'

China should establish stricter security checks at airports to ensure aviation safety, experts suggested, after weekend incidents in which a passenger tried to set a fire on a plane and a security officer lost three fingers in an explosion.

"Many chaotic incidents on flights and at airports in China have been the result of careless security checks," said Zhang Qihuai, vice-president of aviation law research for the Beijing Law Society.

Early on Sunday morning, a passenger brought a lighter and gasoline aboard a Shenzhen Airlines flight from Taizhou, Zhejiang province, and attempted to light a fire as the aircraft was landing in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, according to the airport.

The passenger was overpowered by the flight crew and other passengers, the airport said, and has been detained for creating chaos on a flight.

Ninety-five passengers and nine crew were evacuated after the plane landed. Two people were slightly injured in the incident and were taken to a hospital.

Zhang said all of the passengers will be compensated.

"Passengers who helped crew members to overpower the person may receive more," Zhang said.

On Saturday, a security worker lost three fingers when a lighter exploded as she was inspecting it at the Yangzhou-Taizhou airport in Jiangsu province.

The lighter belonged to a 14-year-old boy who was traveling with his grandmother.

No one else was injured in the incident.

Zhang said that the most effective way to reduce or prevent such incidents was to reinforce security inspections.

"These were not just the only two cases exposing aviation safety issues in China," Zhang said.

"It is also important for passengers to respect crew members. Fighting with crew members is strictly prohibited. Some illegal incidents such as barging into first class and knocking on the cockpit door have occurred during quarrels with crew members," he added.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn