Chinese authorities have concluded that the pilot who crashed a small plane into Beijing's tallest skyscraper last week did so for personal reasons, citing "chronic insomnia and anxiety." The pilot, identified by his surname Liu, died in the crash at the CITIC Tower and injured 13 others.
Liu, a 66-year-old Beijing resident, was a divorced freelancer who lived alone, according to a statement from the Chaoyang district. Investigators found "multiple expressions of ending his life" in his diary, leading to the conclusion that the incident was a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons.
One of the 13 individuals injured in the crash has since been released from the hospital. Videos of the crash, which occurred near the Communist Party's headquarters, circulated on social media before being removed by authorities.
In the days following the incident, at least three aviation firms reported being instructed to suspend light aircraft operations. Liu had obtained his sport pilot's license in 2021 and his private pilot's license in 2024. He took off from an airport in Pinggu district on the afternoon of the crash for accompanying and solo flights. During his solo flight, he deviated from the designated area, lost contact with the airport, and subsequently collided with the CITIC Tower.
The aircraft involved was a two-seat, single-engine Aurora SA60L manufactured by Chinese company Sunward Aircraft. The plane measures 6.9 meters long with an 8.6-meter wingspan and is designed for recreational aviation activities.