Beijing authorities say plane crash pilot suffered with mental health

Beijing authorities said the pilot of a small plane that crashed into Beijing’s tallest building last week had long suffered from anxiety and discussed “ending his life” in his diary, reports the South China Morning Post.

In a brief summary of an investigation, the Chaoyang district government said the pilot was a 66-year-old Beijing resident, identified only by his surname Liu. Liu died when the light aircraft he was flying struck Citic Tower in the capital’s central business district on Friday.

The authorities said Liu, a freelance worker who was divorced and lived alone, obtained a sport pilot licence in 2021 and a private pilot licence in 2024.