Pilot Who Crashed Plane into Beijing Skyscraper Had History of Anxiety

The government of Chaoyang District, Beijing, has revealed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into the CITIC Tower on Friday afternoon suffered from insomnia and had a history of anxiety. The pilot, identified as a 66-year-old Beijing resident surnamed Liu, was a freelancer who was divorced and lived alone. “Liu had long suffered from insomnia and anxiety. Expressions such as ‘ending his life’ were found multiple times in his diary,” the district government stated on its social media page. According to the investigation, the aircraft was a single-engine light sport plane, an Arora SA60L with registration number B-12PP, carrying two seats. Liu obtained his sport pilot licence in 2021 and a private pilot licence in 2024. “During a solo flight, the aircraft deviated from the designated area and lost contact with the airport. It subsequently crashed into a high-rise building, and Liu died at the scene,” the statement said. Local authorities immediately launched an investigation and response after receiving the accident report. Thirteen people on the ground were injured and received medical treatment; none of the injuries were life-threatening, and one person has since been discharged from hospital. “Based on the results of a comprehensive investigation, this case has been declared a matter endangering public security due to personal reasons,” the statement concluded. The CITIC Tower serves as the headquarters for the Chinese state-owned conglomerate represented by the Ministry of Finance, with business pillars spanning finance, advanced manufacturing, raw materials, and smart city operations. The building is located in Beijing’s main business district, opposite the state media offices of CCTV, and is surrounded by numerous domestic and international corporate offices and foreign embassies. The site is also approximately 6 kilometres from Tiananmen Square, the city centre of Beijing.