1 Dead, 13 Injured After Aircraft Crashes into Beijing Skyscraper

A light aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest building on Friday, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground, in a rare aviation incident in the tightly controlled airspace of China's capital.

Authorities in Beijing's Chaoyang district said the single-engine, two-seat aircraft struck CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, at around 5:55 p.m. local time. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was killed in the crash.

The injured are receiving medical treatment, while investigators work to determine the cause of the accident. Damage to the 528-metre skyscraper appeared limited, with only two shattered glass panels visible on the facade.

Located in Beijing's central business district, the tower stands near key government compounds and major tourist attractions. Flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft had been flying over Beijing's northeastern suburbs before heading toward the city center, where contact was lost.

The aircraft was identified as an Aurora SA60L manufactured by China's Sunward Aviation. The crash marks Beijing's first fatal aviation accident since a sightseeing helicopter crash in 2022.