Absolutely gobsmacking. What a twisted selfish sick
.
Very sad to hear such news.
Aviation journalist? Private or comm licence holder? Why on Earth would anyone who learned to fly (and thus to enjoy the beauty of it) be such murderous prick and do all this to anyone, especially fellow pilot? Feeling like ending it? OK, that's what the tall bridges/steep cliffs are for.
Going to such lovely country, causing death and grief, possibly insurance/money problems for the aeroclub, endangering people and property on the ground. Why not do it alone in home country at least? It's unreal reality.
No, people don't have to be mentally ill per se, to commit suicide. Sure, extreme depression could be tagged as illness, but sometimes it could be fast and without warning, the last hours or days of someone.