The news stories say the pilot “made a request to land three minutes into the flight” but that would be perfectly normal on a first solo when you’re just doing a single circuit and requesting landing clearance on downwind. I haven’t heard the ATC recordings so don’t know whether this radio call was a regular downwind call or an intended emergency call without the maydays or pan pans. If there was engine trouble on downwind leg requiring immediate landing rather than completing the circuit the track doesn’t show any turn towards the runway or change to best glide.