Plane crashes into Beijing skyscraper

Authorities have released new information about the crash of a small plane into the tallest skyscraper in the Chinese capital, Beijing, the Citic Tower. It was reported on Thursday (July 2) that the pilot of the plane was Liu, a 66-year-old local resident who had expressed his desire to commit suicide several times in the past.

According to a report by international media outlet CNN, a two-seater Sunward SA60L Aurora plane crashed into the 109-story, 528-meter-high Citic Tower on Friday evening, bypassing one of the world's strictest air traffic control systems. The pilot was killed in the accident and 13 others were injured. None of the injured were in critical condition; one of them has already been discharged from the hospital.

According to information provided by the Chaoyang District Government, Liu first took off with a passenger from a general airport in northeastern Beijing on Friday afternoon. He then flew the plane alone and deviated from the scheduled flight path. Shortly after losing contact with the airport, the plane crashed into the Citic Tower in the capital's central business district.

The investigation revealed that Liu, who obtained his pilot's license in 2021, was self-employed, divorced and living alone. His personal diary contained multiple references to wanting to end his life. Officials said he had long suffered from insomnia and anxiety. Initial investigations suggest that he committed the incident for personal reasons, which posed a major risk to public safety.

During the crash, glass fragments and aircraft debris from the building fell onto the road below, causing panic among people leaving their offices before the weekend holiday. At the same time, questions were raised about Beijing's air defense and aviation security systems.

Meanwhile, videos and various posts related to the accident were quickly removed from Chinese social media immediately after the incident. State media also did not report any news on the matter at first. Later, about a day later, Chinese authorities officially acknowledged the accident.