BEIJING: The pilot who died after crashing a small plane into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, injuring 13 people, had mental health issues and had written about suicide in his diary, authorities said Thursday (July 2).
The 66-year-old man flew a light aircraft into the 528-metre (1,732-foot) CITIC Tower in Beijing's Central Business District on Friday (June 26) at 5.55pm (0955 GMT).
The plane crash raised questions about aviation safety in tightly secured Beijing, with the CITIC skyscraper around seven kilometres (4.3 miles) away from Zhongnanhai, the government compound which houses top Chinese leaders.
AFP journalists at the scene had seen a hole in the windows of one of the building's upper floors, with witnesses reporting plane debris and a small fire at the foot of the tower.
The pilot -- surnamed Liu -- was divorced, lived alone in Beijing and "had long suffered from insomnia and anxiety, and his diary contained multiple references to 'ending his life'", the capital's Chaoyang district government said in a statement.
"This was an incident endangering public safety caused by personal reasons," it added.
Liu worked as a freelancer and had obtained a sport pilot license in 2021 and a private pilot license in 2024, according to the statement.
On the afternoon of the incident, Liu took off from a general aviation airport in suburban Pinggu district and conducted both supervised and solo flights, the statement said.
During his last solo flight, Liu "deviated from the designated area and lost contact with the airport" before the crash, it added.
He was flying a two-seat propeller-driven light aircraft.
Chinese social media was rapidly scrubbed of photos and videos of the plane crash shortly after it took place, while police at the scene stopped journalists and onlookers from taking pictures of the building.
Reuters said incidents like Friday's crash are rare in China, which maintains some of the world's strictest airspace controls and tight security around President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders, fuelling speculation in Beijing's central business district - where the building is located - about what happened.
The crash occurred days before the ruling Communist Party celebrated its 105th anniversary down the road in the Great Hall of the People off Tiananmen Square. Discussion of the crash on Chinese social media has since been scrubbed.
Blaming the pilot does not explain the gaps in security, however. Internet users were still seeking answers in posts beneath the online statement before they were swiftly deleted.
The Chaoyang district government's statement said Liu had long suffered from insomnia and anxiety and his diary repeatedly mentioned ending his life.
Obtaining a private pilot licence in China requires a physical medical examination and other appropriate certifications, a pilot qualified to fly in China said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the incident.
It remains unclear how the plane was able to enter an area next to a permanent no-fly zone and also cross highly restricted airspace used by commercial jets arriving at and departing from Beijing Capital Airport (0694.HK), one of the city's two major airports.
On the afternoon of the incident, Liu "first carried out an accompanied flight and then a solo flight" out of a general aviation airport in the suburban Pinggu district, authorities said. The flight deviation occurred during the solo flight.
The statement confirmed for the first time the registration number of the plane: B-12PP.
Chinese regulations require all flights, including non-airline general aviation, to be approved in advance. General aviation operators must submit detailed flight plans to flight-control authorities before 3pm (0700 GMT) on the day before takeoff. Flying over urban areas is generally prohibited under China's civil aviation laws. - AFP, Reuters
***Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935/ 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/ 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim’s family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929/email sam@befrienders.org.my/visit www.befrienders.org.my/centre- in-malaysia).
