Chinese Influencer Tang Feiji Dies in Tragic Ultralight Aircraft Crash During Live Stream

Tang Feiji, a 55-year-old content creator from China, tragically lost his life when his ultralight aircraft crashed during a livestream flight on September 27 in Jiange County, central China. Hundreds of his followers on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, witnessed the devastating accident as it happened live.

With over 100,000 followers on the platform, Tang had built a substantial audience interested in his aviation adventures. Following the tragic incident, his social media accounts were set to private, allowing only existing followers to access his content. Despite this restriction, the fatal livestream footage spread widely across other social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).

According to Cover News and the state-run China News Service (CNS), the aviation influencer lost control of his aircraft, which burst into flames upon impact. Tang was declared dead at the scene due to both the impact trauma and the resulting fire.

Media reports indicated that Tang had previously revealed purchasing the ultralight aircraft for approximately $49,000 (about 350,000 Chinese Yuan). The vehicle had capabilities of reaching altitudes of 2,000 feet and speeds exceeding 60 mph.

Concerning safety issues emerged from Tang's earlier videos, where he claimed to have mastered the aircraft's controls after just six hours of practice. Reports further noted that during the fatal crash, he was not wearing essential safety equipment such as a helmet or parachute.

Viewers who were watching the livestream witnessed the accident in real-time, with many frantically commenting "save him" and "call emergency services" as the situation unfolded. Following the tragedy, followers expressed their grief across social media, remembering Tang as an adventurous spirit with a passionate enthusiasm for flying.

Earlier in 2024, Tang had reportedly experienced two incidents involving fuel gauge malfunctions, though these resulted in only minor drops of less than 30 feet.