Pilot's Mental Health Issues Linked to Beijing Skyscraper Crash

Jul 2, 2026

70 min

Jul 2, 2026 10:30

Pilot who crashed into Beijing skyscraper wrote about ending his life: Officials

## Incident Overview

A light aircraft crashed into the 109-storey CITIC Tower in Beijing, causing the death of the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground. The incident occurred shortly before 6pm local time.

## Pilot's Background

The pilot, identified as Liu, was 66 years old and had been dealing with insomnia and anxiety for years. He lived alone following a divorce and had obtained his sport pilot license in 2021, followed by a private pilot license three years later. Liu worked as a freelance pilot.

## Investigation Findings

Chinese authorities revealed that Liu had written about ending his life in his personal diary. The crash was attributed to "personal reasons," shifting focus from mechanical failure or security breaches to the pilot's mental health struggles.

## Flight Details

On the day of the crash, Liu departed from an airport in Beijing's Pinggu district. After completing supervised and solo flights, he deviated from his designated flying area during his final solo flight. Contact with the airport was lost, and the aircraft collided with the skyscraper.

## Impact and Response

The crash caused debris to fall and smoke to rise from the building. Emergency crews quickly secured the area. The aircraft involved was a Sunward SA60L, commonly used for private and training flights. The investigation is ongoing, but the findings have highlighted the pilot's personal challenges as a significant factor in the crash.

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