Plane crashes into Beijing skyscraper, pilot suffered from insomnia, anxiety

Chinese authorities have revealed new information regarding the incident where a small plane crashed into the CITIC Tower, the tallest skyscraper in China's capital, Beijing. They announced that the aircraft was controlled by a 66-year-old local resident named Liu, who had previously expressed suicidal thoughts on Thursday (July 2).

According to a CNN report, last Friday evening, a two-seater Sunward SA 60L Aurora aircraft bypassed one of the world's strictest airspace control systems and struck the 109-story, 528-meter-high CITIC Tower. The pilot was killed in the incident, and 13 others were injured. None of the injured are in critical condition, and one has already been discharged from the hospital.

A statement from the Chaoyang district government noted that on Friday afternoon, Liu initially took off from a general aviation airport in northeastern Beijing with a companion. Later, flying alone, he deviated from the designated flight path. After losing communication with the airport, the aircraft went on to strike the CITIC Tower, located in the capital's central business district.

Investigators stated that Liu, who obtained his pilot's license in 2021, was self-employed, divorced, and lonely. His personal diary contained multiple mentions of a desire to end his life. According to officials, he had been suffering from insomnia and anxiety-related issues for a long time. Investigators believe he committed the act due to personal reasons, severely endangering public safety.

During the crash, glass shards and plane debris rained down onto the streets below, sparking panic among commuters heading home before the weekend. The incident has also raised questions regarding Beijing's air defense and aviation security systems.

However, immediately following the incident, related videos and all mentions were swiftly removed from Chinese social media platforms. State media also initially refrained from publishing any news on the matter. Chinese authorities officially acknowledged the accident nearly a day later.