Chinese authorities announced Thursday that the pilot who crashed a small plane into Beijing's CITIC tower, the city's tallest building, wrote about "ending his life" in his diary, indicating the incident was due to personal reasons.
The 66-year-old pilot, identified by the surname Liu, died in the June 26 crash. Thirteen other people were injured, though none of the injuries are life-threatening, and one injured person has since been released from the hospital, according to a statement from Beijing's Chaoyang district government.
The investigation concluded the cause of the crash was "personal reasons." Liu, who had no fixed job, was divorced, and lived alone, reportedly suffered from insomnia and anxiety, the statement said.
The crash occurred around 6 p.m. in a downtown skyscraper district as people were leaving work. The incident left a hole in the glass facade of the 108-story CITIC tower, which is nicknamed the “Zun” building due to its resemblance to an ancient Chinese wine vessel.
Liu took off on a solo flight from a general aviation airport on the outskirts of Beijing in a two-seat training plane. He deviated from his designated flight path, and contact with him was lost, the government statement said.
Central Beijing, where China's leadership resides and works, is subject to strict airspace controls, including a ban on drones.