Airplane Crash in Beijing Kills Pilot, Injures 13 Locals

Aircraft Crashes into Beijing’s Tallest Building

On June 26, at 5:55pm (0955 GMT), an aircraft collided with the CITIC Tower in Beijing. The incident resulted in the death of the sole occupant – the pilot – and injured 13 people not on board.

The crash occurred near the East third ring road in Chaoyang district, where air traffic is typically restricted. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident while those injured receive medical treatment.

Damage to the skyscraper’s facade was limited to a hole caused by the loss of two large glass panels. The building stands 528 meters high and is located six kilometers from the Forbidden City, a popular tourist destination. It is also near Zhongnanhai, where China’s top political leadership resides.

This incident follows Beijing’s May ban on purchasing, renting, or flying drones without authorization due to public security concerns. The last aircraft crash in Beijing occurred in 2022 when a tourist helicopter crashed between the Changping and Fangshan districts, killing both pilots on board.