Investigation into Beijing plane crash sheds light on pilot’s mental health
Liu, a Beijing native, suffered from insomnia and anxiety, the statement said, adding that the incident’s cause was “personal reasons,” reports BritPanorama.
Incidents like Friday’s crash are rare in China, which maintains some of the world’s strictest airspace controls and tight security around President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders, fuelling speculation in Beijing’s central business district about what happened. The crash occurred days before the ruling Communist Party celebrated its 105th anniversary down the road in the Great Hall of the People off Tiananmen Square. Discussion of the crash on Chinese social media has since been scrubbed.
Blaming the pilot does not explain the gaps in security, however. Internet users were still seeking answers in posts beneath the online statement before they were swiftly deleted. The Chaoyang district government’s statement noted that Liu had long suffered from insomnia and anxiety and his diary repeatedly mentioned ending his life.
Obtaining a private pilot licence in China requires a physical medical examination and other appropriate certifications, a pilot qualified to fly in China said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the incident. As investigations continue, the government’s response may reflect broader concerns about aviation safety and mental health support among pilots.
Without a clear understanding of the events leading up to the crash, questions linger about the safety protocols in place—an unsettling thought for a nation vigilant about its aviation standards.
