FLASH
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An unusual air accident occurred on Friday in Beijing, where a small plane crashed into the tallest building in the Chinese capital, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground.
The crash sent glass shards and debris from the plane flying onto surrounding streets, causing panic in central Beijing, one of China's most guarded areas.
A few hours later, all references to the incident and footage posted on Chinese social media had been deleted. Initially, authorities did not publicly acknowledge that an accident had occurred.
Just Saturday afternoon local time, Beijing state media reported that a "single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft" had crashed into a high-rise building during flight. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed and 13 people were injured at the scene, according to the report. Authorities said investigations into the cause of the accident were ongoing, without providing further details.
???????? A plane crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 26, 2026
Debris fell near the eastern entrance of the China Zun Tower.
The China Zun skyscraper is in the top 10 tallest buildings in the world. The height of the tower is 528 meters. pic.twitter.com/Tt8hmDkc3V
Damage to the skyscraper's facade appears to be limited to a hole created by the destruction of two large glass panels. As of Saturday, the damaged section had been temporarily covered with protective panels.
The 528-meter-high, 109-story building, known as CITIC Tower or China Zun, is located in Beijing's Central Business District, about 6 kilometers from the Forbidden City, one of the most visited tourist destinations in China.
It is also located near the Zhongnanhai complex, home to the offices of China's top political leadership. The building is home to state-owned corporation CITIC Group and tech giant Alibaba.
According to photos published immediately after the accident on Chinese social media, the registration number B-12PP was visible in the plane's wreckage.
Data from the Flightradar24 platform shows that it is an Aurora SA60L aircraft, manufactured by the Chinese company Sunward.
An aircraft with the same registration number turned out to be owned and operated by Beijing-based Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation, according to a promotional video released by the company in 2024.
The Financial Times, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that the plane belonged to the company. Reuters, on the other hand, said it could not independently verify whether the company still owned and operated the plane at the time of the accident, or whether the pilot had any connection to it.
The company's promotional video, which was removed from social media on Friday evening, advertised 30-minute panoramic flights priced at $129, departing from the small Xifosi airport.
The company offers low-altitude sightseeing flights, practical piloting experience programs and aviation training in the suburban Pinggu district, about 50 kilometers from central Beijing.
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