China says man who flew plane into Beijing skyscraper had mental health problems

Chinese authorities have stated that the man who crashed a small plane into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, the China Citic tower, on June 26th was a 66-year-old with mental health problems. The pilot, identified as Liu, obtained a private pilot's license this year and took off from an airport on the outskirts of Beijing. During his flight, he deviated from the designated area, lost contact with the airport, and collided with the building, resulting in his death at the scene. Investigations concluded the incident was caused by personal reasons, with Liu reportedly suffering from chronic insomnia and anxiety and expressing suicidal thoughts in his diary. Thirteen people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.

Chinese authorities have concluded that a 66-year-old pilot, identified by the surname Liu, intentionally crashed a small plane into Beijing's tallest building, the CITIC Tower, on Friday due to "personal reasons." Liu's diary reportedly contained multiple references to ending his life, and he was described as having insomnia and anxiety, being divorced, and living alone. The pilot died in the crash, which occurred around 6 p.m. in the city's business district, injuring 13 others. None of the injuries are life-threatening. Liu had taken off on a solo flight after an initial flight with another person and deviated from his planned flight path. The incident left a hole in the building's glass facade and raised questions about security in the capital.

Authorities have concluded that the pilot who crashed a small plane into Beijing's CITIC Tower last week did so for "personal reasons." The 66-year-old pilot, identified by his surname Liu, was reportedly suffering from chronic insomnia and anxiety, and his diary contained references to ending his life. The crash, which occurred last Friday, resulted in the pilot's death and injured 13 others, one of whom has since been discharged from the hospital. The investigation determined the incident was a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons. Videos of the crash were widely shared on social media before being removed from the Chinese internet.

Authorities in Beijing have stated that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into the China Citic Tower last Friday had a history of anxiety and had written about "ending his life" in his diary. The pilot, identified as 66-year-old Beijing resident Liu, died in the incident. Liu, a divorced freelance worker, obtained sport and private pilot licenses in 2021 and 2024, respectively. He took off in a light-sport aircraft from an airport in the Pinggu district. The crash prompted China to suspend flight training nationwide.