• The pilot suffered from chronic insomnia and anxiety, according to authorities.
• Liu's diary contained multiple references to ending his life.
• The crash injured 13 individuals, none of whom sustained life-threatening injuries.
• The incident raised questions about aviation security in Beijing.
• The pilot lost contact with authorities shortly before crashing into the CITIC Tower.

The pilot who crashed a small plane into Beijing’s tallest building, CITIC Tower, was a 66-year-old man surnamed Liu, suffering from chronic insomnia and anxiety, authorities reported. This tragic incident occurred on June 26, resulting in the pilot's death and injuries to 13 others, though officials stated that none of the injuries were life-threatening, and one individual has since been discharged from the hospital, according to BBC and India Times.

The investigation revealed that Liu had written in his diary about "ending his life" multiple times, leading officials to conclude that the crash was a case of “endangering public safety caused by personal reasons.” The pilot, who was divorced and lived alone, took off from a general aviation airport in Pinggu district and deviated from his designated flight area before losing contact prior to the crash, according to Reuters and LA Times.

The crash raised significant concerns regarding security measures in Beijing, particularly because the CITIC Tower is located in the city’s central business district, a highly sensitive area close to government compounds including Zhongnanhai. Witnesses reported plane debris and a small fire at the base of the tower, which resulted in the evacuation of the building and surrounding areas, as well as questions about how the aircraft was able to navigate into such a restricted airspace, as detailed by Channel News Asia and India Times.