Pilot deliberately crashed plane into skyscraper: China
The pilot who crashed a small plane into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper last week acted for “personal reasons” and had long suffered from insomnia and anxiety, Chinese officials said.
The Chaoyang district government described the man as a 66-year-old freelancer from Beijing, divorced, living alone, and having held a sport flying license since 2021.
Last Friday, people died and 13 more people were injured when the Chinese-made Aurora SA60L light aircraft crashed into the 528-meter Chinese Zun tower.
The accident occurred around 18:00 while citizens were leaving work.
This left a hole in the glass facade of the 108-storey CITIC tower, called the “Zun” building because it imitates the shape of an old wine container of the same name.
Investigators said the pilot took off from the eastern area of Pinggu before leaving the designated flight area and lost communication with air traffic authorities shortly before the crash.
Authorities added that the entries in his personal diaries included the words “ending his life”.
The highly unusual incident has raised questions about security in Beijing, one of the world’s most tightly monitored capitals.
Central Beijing is a military-controlled no-fly zone, where flights are allowed only with official permission.
The crash site is close to the headquarters of state broadcaster CCTV and just a few kilometers from the Forbidden City and Zhongnanhai, the government compound and political center of the ruling Communist Party.
According to reports in state media, Chinese authorities imposed a nationwide ban on light aircraft flights following the incident.
13 more people were injured in the accident on Friday, but according to official statements, the danger is now over.
with AP
