Chinese authorities say the pilot of the light aircraft that crashed into a telecommunications tower in Beijing had made in-flight notes about suicide, which came into doubt after the plane’s accident.
Chinese authorities have said that the pilot of the light aircraft that had crashed into a telecommunications tower in Beijing had made notes in flight that had suggested suicidal thoughts before the accident, netting him a new breakthrough in the case.
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The statement came after an official investigation of the crash led to wide speculation following the plane’s collision with the tower in the Chinese capital. Investigators found writings from the pilot himself in his personal belongings that the police recovered when searched said the pilot had considered suicide prior to the flight, government officials said.
Authorities say preliminary investigation has failed to detect any evidence of mechanical failure or external interference or to provide any evidence of terror. The inquiry is ongoing but investigators believe that the aircraft was intentionally flown into the structure.
Upon hearing of the crash site emergency responders were sent to scene and extensive damage was reported to both the tower and infrastructure at the crash site.
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There were no reports of people being killed on the ground, in the collision the pilot was killed. Telecommunications were briefly hampered in portions of the area, but were promptly replaced to resume normal operations.
Aviation safety investigators, law-enforcement and mental health experts have been co-operating in reconstructing what happened before the plane crashed and how the failure to notice any warning signs could have affected the lives of the 233 people on board, the Chinese government said.
The authorities also called on everyone not to spread any rumours during this investigation, noting that accurate information would be communicated through official channels.
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This occurrence has brought to the forefront renewed discussions on mental health screening in the aviation sector, highlighting that mental wellbeing continues to play a crucial role in flight safety, in addition to technical expertise and operational training.
Authorities have vowed to evaluate current procedures, if needed, to improve aviation safety and provide adequate psychological help to aviation staff who are experiencing emotional or mental stress.
