Pilot killed after light aircraft hits Beijing skyscraper

BEIJING: A light aircraft struck Beijing’s tallest building on Friday, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground, according to a statement issued by the Chaoyang district government on Saturday.

The district government said those hurt in the incident were receiving medical treatment and that an investigation was under way. It described the aircraft as a single-engine, two-seat light sport plane that hit a high-rise near the East Third Ring Road in Chaoyang at 5:55 p.m. local time on June 26.

The official statement said there was only one person aboard the plane and that the pilot died in the crash. It did not provide further details on the possible cause of the accident.

The incident was unusual for the Chinese capital, where airspace is tightly controlled. The building involved was identified as CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, a 528-metre skyscraper in Beijing’s Central Business District. The tower stands about 6 km from the Forbidden City, a major tourist site, and is also close to Zhongnanhai, the compound that contains the offices of China’s top political leadership.

Damage and aftermath

Visible damage to the exterior of the tower appeared limited. Two large glass panels were lost, leaving a hole in the building’s outer structure. By Saturday, the opening had been temporarily covered.

Images shared on Chinese social media after the crash showed aircraft debris and the identifier B-12PP. Reuters said it could not immediately verify those pictures.

Previous crash in Beijing

The last aircraft crash reported in Beijing was in 2022, when a tourist helicopter went down during a flight between the Changping and Fangshan districts, killing both pilots on board.

Authorities have not yet publicly set out what caused Friday’s crash, but said an investigation was continuing while the injured received treatment.