Pilot who crashed into Beijing tower had expressed desire to 'end his life,' authorities say

Chinese authorities have revealed that the pilot who crashed a light aircraft into Beijing's tallest tower, the Citic Tower, had confessed suicidal intentions in his private diary. The incident occurred on June 26, resulting in the pilot's death and injuries to 13 others.

The investigation, led by the Chaoyang district government in Beijing, concluded that the collision was caused by the pilot's "personal reasons." The pilot, identified as Liu, was 66 years old, unemployed, divorced, and lived alone. He reportedly suffered from insomnia and anxiety, and his diary contained multiple references to his desire to end his life.

The 528-meter-tall Citic Tower, also known as China Zun, was struck by the Sunward SA 60L Aurora aircraft around 5:55 PM. The pilot had taken off from an airport approximately 50 kilometers east of Beijing, deviated from his designated flight path, and lost contact with authorities.

While the 13 injured individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries, all are reported to be out of danger, with one already discharged from the hospital. The incident occurred despite Beijing's stringent security measures and recent restrictions on airspace usage, including a ban on drone sales without prior authorization.