Small plane crashes into Beijing tower, killing pilot and injuring 13

A single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft slammed into Beijing’s CITIC Tower in Chaoyang district at 5:55 p.m. on Friday, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground. The crash landed in one of the capital’s busiest commercial corridors, near the East Third Ring Road, and immediately raised questions about how a small aircraft came to hit a skyscraper in a city where airspace is heavily restricted.

Chinese authorities said the pilot was the only person aboard and died in the crash. The 13 people injured were not on the plane and were receiving medical treatment, while authorities said an investigation was underway. The short statement released on WeChat did not identify the building in its initial notice or name the pilot, leaving basic questions about the flight, the aircraft’s route and the final moments before impact unanswered.

Flightradar24 identified the struck building as the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun. The tower rises 108 stories and stands about 528 meters, or 1,732 feet, making it widely described as the tallest building in Beijing. It is shaped like an ancient Chinese wine vessel and serves as the headquarters of CITIC Group, placing the impact squarely on a landmark at the center of the city’s financial district.

Witness accounts and images from the scene showed debris around the base of the tower and damage high on the structure, including broken windows near the upper floors. That visibility has sharpened attention on whether the flight had the proper permission to be in the area and how a light sport plane could reach such a densely built part of the capital. With Beijing’s airspace tightly controlled, the crash stands out not only for its violence but for the gap between the public statement and the safety questions it leaves behind.