An aviation social media personality tragically lost his life in front of over 1,000 followers when his ultralight aircraft crashed and caught fire during a live stream event.
Tang Feiji, known for his flying videos, was live streaming his flight in central China when his twin-rotor aircraft suddenly veered sharply downward and crashed in Jiange County. Viewers witnessing the incident flooded the chat with urgent messages requesting emergency assistance to save him.
Despite the viewers’ pleas, Tang, aged 55, succumbed to the impact and was declared deceased at the crash site. He was a popular figure in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, with approximately 100,000 followers on the Chinese social platform Douyin.
Minutes before the fatal crash, Tang had briefly landed to adjust his camera before taking off again. Notably, he was flying without a helmet or parachute for safety measures.
Following his passing, Tang’s live stream account was made private, limiting access to his previous content to existing followers only. Chinese authorities have initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding Tang’s death.
Reports indicate that this was not Tang’s first encounter with danger, having survived two previous crashes attributed to technical malfunctions like a faulty fuel gauge. He had purchased the aircraft for an estimated £36,500 (CNY 350,000) the previous year.
While Tang believed that a pilot’s license was unnecessary for flying ultralight aircraft like his, aviation experts emphasize the importance of proper licensing for operating any low-altitude aircraft.