A light aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people who were not on board, according to the local government. The accident, which occurred in the Chinese capital where airspace is heavily restricted, is considered unusual.
Details of the Incident
Chaoyang district government released a statement on Saturday confirming that the injured are receiving medical treatment and authorities are investigating the incident. The statement, posted on social media, said: "A single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft collided with a high-rise building while flying near the East third ring road in Chaoyang, at 5:55pm (0955 GMT) on June 26." It added: "There was only one person on board, the pilot, who died." No further details on the possible cause of the crash were provided.
Damage to the Skyscraper
Damage to the facade of the skyscraper appeared to be limited to a hole caused by the loss of two large glass panels. As of Saturday, the gap had been temporarily boarded up. The building, known as CITIC Tower or China Zun, stands 528 meters tall in Beijing's Central Business District. It is approximately six kilometers from the Forbidden City, which attracts thousands of tourists daily, and is also near Zhongnanhai, a compound housing offices of China's top political leadership.
Context and Recent Restrictions
The incident follows Beijing's ban since May on buying, renting, or flying drones without authorization due to public security concerns. The last aircraft crash in Beijing was in 2022, when a tourist helicopter crashed during a flight between the Changping and Fangshan districts, killing the two pilots on board.
