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

Chinese authorities said Saturday that a pilot died and 13 people were injured after a light aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest building in a rare aviation incident in the capital.

The crash happened Friday at the 528-metre CITIC Tower in Chaoyang District, with witnesses reporting debris scattered near the base of the skyscraper.

AFP reporters at the scene also saw a hole in the windows of one of the tower’s upper floors.

Authorities said in a statement shared on WeChat that “a single-engine, two-seat light aircraft crashed into a high-rise building” at approximately 5:55 pm local time.

“The only person on board was the pilot, who died, and 13 people were injured at the scene,” the statement added.

Officials did not provide details about the cause of the crash but confirmed that investigations were continuing.

Footage filmed from a nearby building showed firefighters directing water at small flames on the ground while what appeared to be wreckage from the plane lay nearby.

Emergency responders, including police officers and ambulances, rushed to the area, with security personnel preventing members of the public from taking pictures.

The CITIC Tower, one of Beijing’s most recognisable skyscrapers, has 108 floors above ground and seven underground levels and is designed to house about 12,000 office workers.

China enforces tight restrictions on airspace use, particularly in Beijing’s urban region, citing public security reasons.

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