Beijing crash probe says pilot discussed ending his life in diaries

Beijing investigators said the pilot who crashed into Citic Tower had written about ending his life. The finding has intensified questions over airspace security and flight training oversight in the capital.

In Short

• The 66-year-old pilot died, while 13 others suffered non-critical injuries
• The aircraft struck Beijing's tallest tower, forcing evacuation and debris alerts
• Authorities said the plane left its approved zone before losing contact

Investigators in Beijing said on Thursday that the pilot of the small plane that crashed into the capital's tallest skyscraper last week had long suffered from anxiety and had discussed "ending his life" in his diaries. The 66-year-old pilot, identified only by his surname Liu, was killed in the June 26 crash, while 13 others were injured. An official statement said none of the injured was in a life-threatening condition.

The incident raised security concerns because the building is in Beijing's busy business district and not far from the Great Hall of the People and Zhongnanhai, the guarded residential compound for China's top leaders. Posts and photos about the crash were quickly removed from Chinese social media, while flight schools across China said this week they had been told to suspend training and undergo safety inspections after the incident.

According to the investigation released by Beijing's Chaoyang district government, Liu was a Beijing resident, a divorcee, a freelance worker and lived alone. He obtained a sport pilot licence in 2021 and a private pilot licence in 2024. He took off in the afternoon in an Aurora SA60L, a single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft, from a general aviation airport in Pinggu district on Beijing's outskirts.

"Liu first carried out an accompanied flight before taking off alone. During the solo flight, he left the designated operating area and lost contact with the airport before the aircraft hit the skyscraper," the statement said. It added that he had long-term insomnia and anxiety, and that his diary contained repeated references to ending his life.

The district government said, "The incident was determined to be a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons," according to a report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. However, the district government's statement did not explain how the aircraft was able to travel from Pinggu district into one of the most sensitive and densely populated parts of the Chinese capital, the report said. As it had done a day after the crash, the district did not name the building and referred to it only as a skyscraper near the East Third Ring Road.

At 528 metres, Citic Tower, also known as China Zun, is the tallest building in Beijing. The collision led to an evacuation and sent debris falling onto streets and green spaces around the landmark. Flying any light sport aircraft in Beijing requires approval from both the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Last month, Beijing also brought in sweeping airspace rules that effectively banned casual recreational flying and consumer drones, with all outdoor flights requiring prior government and air traffic approval.

The investigation said the pilot had a history of insomnia and anxiety and had written repeatedly about ending his life, while officials described the crash as an act that endangered public safety for personal reasons. The collision with Beijing's tallest tower killed the pilot, injured 13 people, prompted an evacuation and led to tighter scrutiny of flight training and aircraft operations.

With PTI Inputs

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