A small airplane crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper on June 26, 2026, striking the CITIC Tower in the Chinese capital’s central business district.
The aircraft hit the upper section of the 528-meter tower, also known as China Zun, at around 18:00 local time, according to eyewitness accounts.
Images and video posted online showed damage to the glass exterior of the building and debris falling toward the street below. Emergency vehicles and police were seen around the tower after the crash, while roads near the building were closed.
Chinese authorities have so far not issued an official statement about the crash. The number of people on board and whether anyone was injured had also not been confirmed.
The aircraft has been identified by Flightradar24 and aviation accident database reports as a Sunward SA 60L Aurora, registration B-12PP. The SA 60L Aurora is a Chinese-built light sport aircraft.
The aircraft has also been linked in aviation databases and media reports to Shuangyue General Aviation, a regional general aviation and flight training operator. Authorities had not officially confirmed the aircraft type or operator.
The CITIC Tower is the tallest building in Beijing and one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. The 108-story building is located in Beijing’s Guomao business district and serves as the headquarters of CITIC Group, one of China’s largest state-owned conglomerates.
The crash raised questions about how a light aircraft reached central Beijing, where flight operations require prior approval and airspace is tightly controlled.
It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft was operating on an approved flight plan, whether it had deviated from its route, or whether the pilot had attempted to return to an airport before the crash.
Some reports, citing flight tracking and aviation database information, said the aircraft had departed from Beijing Shifosi Airport, a small general aviation airport east of the city. That information had not been confirmed by Chinese aviation authorities.
Witnesses described hearing a loud impact before seeing damage to the building and debris falling from the skyscraper. Reuters reported that police discouraged people from filming the scene and that social media posts about the crash appeared to be removed from Chinese platforms.
The incident comes as China has been working to expand general aviation, drones and other aviation services.
At the same time, Beijing remains a sensitive and heavily controlled environment for aircraft operations. Flights in and around the capital are subject to strict approval requirements, particularly near the city center.
-Agencies
