Light Aircraft Crashes Into Beijing’s Tallest Tower, No Casualties Reported Yet

A light aircraft apparently struck the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, the tallest skyscraper in Beijing, on Friday in a rare incident in the Chinese capital. No official information has yet been released on casualties or the cause of the collision.

CNN reported that images circulating on social media showed aircraft debris falling from the 109-story building, along with part of the plane’s tail on the ground. Another image showed a taxi with a shattered window after the incident.

A CNN reporter at the scene said tower occupants were evacuated to nearby streets, while large numbers of firefighters, police officers, and ambulances were dispatched. Chinese authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the circumstances or whether anyone was injured.

Based on photographs shared online, the aircraft registration appears to belong to a Chinese-made Sunward SA60L Aurora light sport plane owned by a local general aviation company. Unverified flight data from Flightradar24, also shared online, suggest the plane deviated sharply from its route shortly before impact. The incident comes amid strict security restrictions in Beijing, including a ban in effect since May 1 on operating drones without government approval. The investigation is ongoing.