A 55-year-old Chinese livestreamer known online as “Tang Feiji” (real name Tang Zhengxing) was killed on September 27 while flying an ultralight aircraft in Jian’ge County, Sichuan Province. Tang, who had gained popularity for building and piloting his own light planes and sharing his flights with fans online, crashed shortly after take-off while live-streaming.
According to Chinese media Daily Business News, viewers watching the broadcast saw the aircraft lose control soon after takeoff before plummeting vertically to the ground and bursting into flames. Footage circulating online shows the craft turning into a fireball on impact. Tang was reportedly not wearing a helmet or equipped with a parachute. He had briefly landed moments earlier to adjust his filming angle before taking off again.
Local officials confirmed Tang’s death and said his family has arrived to handle funeral arrangements. Jian’ge County’s funeral home also confirmed receiving a body from the crash site. County authorities and multiple agencies have launched an investigation.
Tang had described himself as the only person in Sichuan capable of operating this particular coaxial twin-rotor ultralight aircraft. He reportedly purchased the craft in 2024 for 350,000 yuan (about NT$1.49 million). Past reports stated the plane could reach speeds of up to 100 km/h with a range of around 40 km. Tang had previously insisted that operating such an aircraft did not require a pilot’s license and denied accusations of self-promotion.
However, aviation experts told Chinese media that even ultralight aircraft require legal licensing for low-altitude flights and must be reported to civil aviation authorities in advance. In Sichuan, only seven airspaces are officially approved for such flights, regulated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s Southwest Regional Bureau. Experts also stressed that ultralight flying carries high risks and that lacking professional training and safety equipment greatly increases the chance of serious accidents.
