world
Small Plane Strikes Beijing CITIC Tower, Killing Pilot and Injuring 13 on Ground
A 66-year-old pilot died after his aircraft struck the 528-meter CITIC Tower in Beijing around 6 p.m. on Friday. Thirteen people on the ground suffered non-life-threatening injuries, one of whom has been discharged from hospital.
The IndependentAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Killing the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground. The pilot, identified only by the surname Liu and aged 66, took off from a general aviation airport in the Pinggu district on the city's outskirts. He first flew with a companion, then continued alone before deviating from the designated flight path and losing contact with the airport.
The aircraft struck the 528-meter tower, leaving a hole in its glass facade. Authorities concluded the crash was a case of endangering public safety caused by personal reasons. Liu suffered from chronic insomnia and anxiety, lived alone after a divorce, and had no fixed job.
His diary contained multiple references to ending his life, the Chaoyang district government statement said. The plane was a two-seat, single-engine Aurora SA60L built by Sunward Aircraft, measuring 6.9 meters long with an 8.6-meter wingspan. One of the injured people has been discharged from the hospital.
Videos and references to the crash were removed from Chinese social media platforms. At least three aviation firms were told to suspend light aircraft operations in the days afterward. Chinese authorities took nearly a day to acknowledge the incident publicly.
