Nine Chinese cabin crew awarded 2.5 million yuan for bravery after passenger started fire during flight

Nine Chinese cabin crew were awarded 2.5 million yuan (HK$3.1 million) on Wednesday for restraining a passenger who tried to start a fire on domestic flight last month, a local newspaper reported.

The passenger tried to start the fire with petrol and a lighter he smuggled aboard Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH9648 on July 26 from Taizhou, in Zhejiang province, as it was due to land in Guangzhou.

Two other passengers were injured during the commotion, the Southern Metropolis News reported.

Photos from passengers showed a charred emergency exit door and a damaged seat on the flight.

In the awards ceremony on Wednesday, the crew members and two passengers were applauded for their bravery and how they handled the situation.

Two passengers were also each rewarded with 150,000 yuan for their gallantry by the airlines.