Pilot Who Hit Beijing's Tallest Building Wrote About 'ending His Life,' Chinese Authorities Say

BEIJING — The aviator who flew a mini level into Beijing’s tallest building wrote successful his diary astir “ending his life,” Chinese authorities said Thursday.

Their investigation concluded nan origin of nan June 26 clang was “personal reasons,” according to a connection posted connected societal media by Beijing’s Chaoyang territory government.

The pilot, a 66-year-old man, died and 13 different group were injured. None of nan injuries are life-threatening and 1 of nan injured has been discharged from nan hospital, nan authorities connection said.

The crash, which happened successful a downtown skyscraper territory arsenic group were leaving activity astir 6 p.m., raised questions astir information successful nan Chinese capital. It near a spread successful nan solid destruction of nan 108-story CITIC tower, nicknamed nan “Zun” building because it mimics nan style of an ancient vino alloy of that name.

The pilot, identified only by nan surname Liu, took disconnected connected a solo formation successful nan two-seat training level from a wide aviation airdrome successful nan outskirts of Beijing, nan Chaoyang connection said. He deviated from nan designated flying area and interaction pinch him was lost, it said.

Liu had nary fixed job, was divided and lived alone, according to nan statement. He had insomnia and worry and his diary had aggregate references to ending his life, it said.

Central Beijing, wherever China’s leaders unrecorded and work, has strict airspace controls including a prohibition connected drones.