Fresh details have emerged from Chinese authorities after investigators revealed that the pilot involved in last week’s shocking plane crash into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper had reportedly written several disturbing messages about ending his life before the incident.
The new development came days after the fatal crash that saw a small aircraft slam into the 108-storey CITIC Tower in Beijing’s central business district, raising serious questions about security and aviation safety in one of China’s most tightly controlled airspaces.
Government investigators said the 66-year-old pilot, identified only by his surname Liu, had allegedly been battling long-term insomnia and anxiety before the tragic incident that ended in disaster.
According to authorities in Beijing’s Chaoyang district, investigators discovered diary entries showing repeated references to thoughts about ending his life, leading officials to conclude the crash was caused by personal reasons.
The aircraft reportedly struck the skyscraper during what was meant to be a solo training flight after the pilot suddenly deviated from his approved flight path and lost contact with aviation authorities.
Officials confirmed the pilot died instantly during the crash while 13 people on the ground sustained injuries after debris from the aircraft fell around the busy commercial district.
Emergency responders quickly secured the area while rescue teams attended to injured victims, with authorities later confirming that none of the injured suffered life-threatening wounds.
The incident shocked residents because Beijing maintains some of the world’s strictest airspace restrictions, especially around sensitive government and business zones.
Investigators said the pilot had been living alone following a divorce and worked as a freelance aviator after obtaining his private pilot licence in recent years.
Chinese authorities have continued examining how the aircraft managed to enter a highly restricted part of the capital before crashing into the iconic skyscraper.
The incident has now triggered wider concerns over aviation security in China as officials consider stricter monitoring of private and training aircraft operating around Beijing.