Beijing Skyscraper Crash: Pilot Killed, 13 Injured as Light Aircraft Hits CITIC Tower
Chinese authorities have confirmed that a small plane crashed into a high-rise building in Beijing on Friday evening, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people. The incident occurred in the Chaoyang district, a bustling business area, near the East Third Ring Road at 5:55 pm local time.
In a brief statement published on WeChat, district officials said the two-seat light sport aircraft was occupied only by the pilot, who died in the crash. The injured are receiving treatment, though it remains unclear whether they were inside the building or struck by falling debris.
Global flight-tracking service Flightradar24 identified the building as the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun. Standing 528 metres (1,700 feet) tall with 108 storeys, it is Beijing's tallest skyscraper and a recognisable landmark shaped like an ancient Chinese wine vessel.
According to Flightradar24, the aircraft—a Sunward SA 60L Aurora—took off from an airport approximately 50 kilometres east of Beijing. Its flight path headed westward and ended just east of the East Third Ring Road.
Photographs from the Associated Press on Saturday showed apparent crash marks on the glass facade of the CITIC Tower, with a hole that had been covered up. Images circulated on social media depicted debris from a small aircraft near the skyscraper; while consistent with the location, their authenticity could not be independently verified. One image showed a partial registration number, 'B-12,' which matches the full registration B-12PP.
The aircraft was operated by Shuangyue General Aviation, identified as Dongshi Shuangyue (Beijing) General Aviation. The company's website was inaccessible on Saturday. Online records show the firm offers private pilot training and aerial sightseeing tours.
The SA 60L is manufactured by Starair Aircraft, based in Hunan province, central China. According to the company's website, the single-engine model holds over 70% of China's light sports aircraft market and has been exported to Australia and the United States. Its maximum cruise speed is 220 kilometres per hour, with a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kilograms.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Beijing maintains strict airspace controls, including a recent ban on drones. The authorities have not disclosed further details about the pilot or the building's identity in their statement.
Social media posts about the incident were removed from China's restricted internet shortly after the crash, though footage has surfaced on overseas platforms. A report by financial news outlet Caixin on the casualties became inaccessible on Saturday. Chinese authorities typically regard such incidents as sensitive matters.
The CITIC Tower is located approximately 20 minutes by car from Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound, and 15 minutes from the Forbidden City, a major tourist site.
