**Title: Pilot Crashes Small Plane into Beijing Skyscraper, Authorities Cite Personal Struggles**
**Beijing, China – July 2, 2026** – A small plane crash into Beijing's tallest skyscraper last week has been attributed to the pilot's personal struggles, as authorities revealed that he was suffering from chronic insomnia and anxiety. The pilot, identified only by his surname Liu, tragically lost his life in the incident, which also resulted in injuries to 13 others.
Liu, a 66-year-old resident of Beijing and a divorced freelancer, was reported to have lived alone. The Chaoyang district government disclosed that Liu's personal diary contained several expressions indicating a desire to end his life. In their statement, officials concluded that the crash was a case of endangering public safety driven by personal reasons.
The incident occurred on Friday when Liu took off from an airport in the Pinggu district. During his flight, he deviated from the designated airspace and lost contact with the airport before colliding with the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun. This 109-storey building is located just a few kilometers from Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Communist Party of China. The crash resulted in Liu's death at the scene.
Following the crash, one of the injured individuals has since been discharged from the hospital, while the others continue to receive treatment. Videos capturing the moment of impact quickly circulated on social media but were subsequently removed from Chinese internet platforms as authorities initiated an investigation into the security breach.
In light of the incident, at least three aviation firms reported that they had been instructed to suspend operations involving light aircraft. The plane involved in the crash was a two-seat, single-engine Aurora SA60L, manufactured by the Chinese company Sunward Aircraft. This model, measuring 6.9 meters in length with an 8.6-meter wingspan, is typically used for touring, aerial photography, and recreational flying. Liu had obtained his sport pilot's license in 2021 and his private pilot's license in 2024.
The CITIC Tower, a prominent landmark in Beijing, has long been regarded by locals as a symbol of good fortune. However, the crash has led to a significant shift in sentiment, with even unrelated images and memes of the skyscraper being removed from social media in the aftermath of the incident.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the factors that led to this tragic event and ensuring that such breaches of public safety are prevented in the future.