Pilot Confirmed Dead After Small Plane Crashes Into Beijing's Tallest Skyscraper, 13 Injured

Last Updated:June 27, 2026, 15:58 IST

The crash took place at 5:55 pm (local time) and authorities said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation

China has confirmed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into Beijing’s CITIC Tower on Friday has been killed. The Chaoyang district government said only the pilot was in the two-seater plane when it hit the skyscraper.

The Sunward SA 60L Aurora light aviation plane, one of China’s most successful domestically produced aircraft, crashed into the 1,700-foot-tall CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, with videos showing thick smoke coming from the plane’s fragments at the base of the building.

The crash took place at 5:55 pm (local time) and authorities said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation. Additionally, at least 13 people were injured in the incident, according to the South China Morning Post.

“The only person on board was the pilot, who died, and 13 people were injured at the scene," said the Chaoyang district government in a statement, the first official comment about the incident.

According to a local report, the pilot of the B-12PP aircraft was flying solo and had taken off from Shifosi Airport just half an hour before the incident. The plane was preparing to return to the airport for landing at 5:40 pm, but it deviated from the flight path.

The crash triggered the building’s evacuation and scattered debris across Beijing’s business district.

The incident is remarkable because Beijing is one of China’s most heavily fortified cities. China imposes strict restrictions on its airspace, particularly around Beijing’s urban area, citing public security for the new rules.

“I don’t know why the plane would fly in here. It really is quite strange," a finance worker, who witnessed the incident told AFP. Another woman said, “This kind of thing wouldn’t happen in Beijing. This is Beijing… It’s pretty common abroad, but in China, it shouldn’t happen. I was very shocked."

Incident Scrubbed From Social Media

Hours after the crash, all mention of the incident and the videos were scrubbed from Chinese social media, according to CNN, making it look like nothing had happened. Chinese state media, including the country’s national broadcaster CCTV, made no mention of the incident.

It also raised questions of how the pilot managed to fly over China’s fortified capital, where most of the Communist Party elite live, and where even flying drones is effectively banned.

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int...Read More

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