Chinese authorities on Thursday revealed that the pilot who crashed a light aircraft into Beijing’s tallest building last week had long suffered from anxiety and had written repeatedly about “ending his life” in his diary, with investigators concluding that the incident was caused by “personal reasons”.The findings come nearly a week after the crash raised security concerns in the Chinese capital. The report is based on a statement issued by Beijing’s Chaoyang district government and reports from the South China Morning Post.According to the investigation released by the district government, the June 26 crash was “determined to be a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons.”The pilot, identified only by his surname Liu, was killed when the two-seat aircraft struck the headquarters of state-owned conglomerate CITIC Group, also known as China Zun, while 13 others were injured. At 528 metres (1,732 feet), the tower is the tallest in the capital. Authorities said none of the injuries were life-threatening and one of the injured has since been discharged.The Chaoyang district government said Liu was a 66-year-old Beijing resident, a divorcee and freelance worker who lived alone. He obtained a sport pilot licence in 2021 and a private pilot licence in 2024.Investigators said Liu had “long-term insomnia and anxiety, and his diary contained repeated references to ending his life.” According to the official statement, Liu took off from a general aviation airport in Beijing’s eastern Pinggu district after first completing an accompanied flight.”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.The aircraft involved was identified as an Aurora SA60L, a single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft.The crash occurred at around 6 pm in Beijing’s central business district, leaving a hole in the glass façade of the 108-storey CITIC Tower and triggering the evacuation of the building. Debris also fell onto nearby streets and green spaces.The incident prompted questions over aviation security because the aircraft entered one of the most sensitive parts of the Chinese capital, close to key government precincts, including Zhongnanhai and the Great Hall of the People.According to the South China Morning Post, the district government’s statement did not explain how the aircraft was able to fly from Pinggu into central Beijing. The newspaper reported that online posts and photographs related to the crash were swiftly removed from Chinese social media platforms.The incident has also drawn attention to China’s tightly controlled airspace. Flying 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 introduced sweeping new airspace regulations requiring prior government and air traffic approval for all outdoor flights, including recreational aircraft and consumer drones.
