Chinese authorities said the June 26 crash of a small aircraft into Beijing’s CITIC Tower was caused by the pilot for “personal reasons.” The 66-year-old pilot, identified by authorities only by his surname, Liu, was killed when the two-seat Aurora SA60L struck the 109-story skyscraper, also known as China Zun.
Thirteen others were injured. The BBC reported that one had been discharged from the hospital by Thursday, while DPA reported that officials said all of the injured were out of danger.
“The comprehensive investigation concluded that this was a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons,” the Chaoyang district government said.
Officials said Liu was a divorced Beijing resident who lived alone and worked as a freelancer. The district government said his personal diary included multiple references to ending his life and that he had chronic insomnia and anxiety.
The aircraft departed from Beijing’s Pinggu district. During that flight, officials said he left his assigned operating area, lost contact with the airport and struck the building. Officials said Liu became a sport pilot in 2021 and had been a private pilot since 2024.
Chinese authorities imposed a nationwide ban on light aircraft flights after the crash.
As the TWA Connie - UA DC 7 1956 Grand Canyon accident changed airspace control and the Southwest 182 - Cessna collision resulted in modern this airspace restrictions, this collision could have new responses. Thankfully virtually all US pilots are mostly not too crazy!
“Thankfully virtually all US pilots are mostly not too crazy!”
Art, are you kidding? Have you read the comments on this forum?
Have a safe and sane July 4th weekend. Happy Birthday, America!
You mentioned a 70 year-old incident and one other, and then said something that makes no sense. What are you trying to say?
How can such individuals be spotted in advance?
Suicide is common.
Some people want to take others with them, that individual may have simply been making a statement of some kind with airplane (note he chose the tallest building).
Can happen here. Hopefully authorities are better prepared than they were when a small airplane blundered into the no-fly zone around BFI when Air Force One was parked there for POTUS visit to Seattle. Fighters were scrambled from Oregon, not from McChord nor closer Whidbey in WA. (The Darwin Candidate was following a normal course to somewhere - I forget, SEA is close - hadn’t read NOTAM or …)
Sorry, old timer here. The 1956 midair was the force behind the creation of the FAA. The 1978 midair was the force behind the upside down wedding cake-controlled airspaces now found on our sectionals. Airspace is not unhindered and General Aviation could be as restricted as China has now chosen for itself.
This case was a suicide.
As were the Islamic martyr/kamikaze terrorists who attacked buildings in the US on September 11, 2001.
Good point. Specifically, yours.