'Had Insomnia, Anxiety': China Says Pilot Behind Beijing Tower Crash Wrote About 'Ending Life'

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 20:38 IST

Authorities said Liu deviated from his approved flight path and lost contact with his departure airport before the aircraft struck the 108-storey tower.

The pilot who died after a small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper last Friday was a 66-year-old man surnamed Liu, authorities said on Thursday.

Beijing’s Chaoyang district government said Liu deviated from his approved flight path and lost contact with his departure airport before the aircraft struck the 108-storey CITIC Tower and crashed into the building, killing him at the scene. The tower is the headquarters of one of China’s largest state-owned conglomerates.

Pilot’s Mental Health Background

In its statement, the Chaoyang district government said Liu, a Beijing native, had long suffered from “insomnia and anxiety" and had repeatedly written about “ending his life" in his diary.

The district government also said the crash was caused by “personal reasons". “This was an incident endangering public safety caused by personal reasons."

The statement also noted that Liu had obtained a sport pilot licence in 2021 and a private pilot licence in 2024. Officials said he had carried out an accompanied flight followed by a solo flight on the day of the incident, with the deviation occurring during the solo segment.

Incidents of this nature are rare in China, where airspace is tightly controlled and security around key state buildings is strict.

The crash, which occurred days before the ruling Communist Party marked its 105th anniversary in Beijing, sparked widespread online speculation that has since been heavily censored.

While authorities have attributed the crash to personal factors, questions remain over how the aircraft entered restricted airspace near central Beijing, including zones close to Beijing Capital Airport, one of the city’s two major aviation hubs.

According to officials, all general aviation flights in China require prior approval and detailed flight plans submitted in advance. Flying over urban areas is generally prohibited under civil aviation rules.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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