Pilot killed after light aircraft crashes into Beijing's tallest building

Updated 27 Jun, 2026 04:34pm 2 min read
Security personnel keep watch by a cordon line on a road near CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, in Beijing, China
Security personnel keep watch by a cordon line on a road near CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, in Beijing, China

A light aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest building on Friday, killing ​the pilot and injuring 13 people who were not on ‌board, the local government said following the unusual accident for the Chinese capital.

Those injured are receiving medical treatment, and authorities are ​investigating the incident, the Chaoyang district government said in a statement ​on Saturday.

“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 on June 26,” said the ​statement, which was posted on social media.

“There was only one person on board, the pilot, who died,” the statement added, without giving any further details of ​the possible cause of the crash.

Damage to the facade of the ​skyscraper appeared to be limited to a hole caused by the loss of ‌two ⁠large glass panels. The gap had been temporarily boarded up as of Saturday.

Reuters reported on Friday the crash into the 528-metre-high building, known as CITIC Tower or China Zun, in Beijing’s Central Business ​District.

It is about ​6 km from the Forbidden City, visited by thousands of tourists each day.

It is also near Zhongnanhai, a ​compound that houses the offices of China’s top ​political leadership.

The ⁠incident follows Beijing’s ban since May on buying, renting or flying drones without authorisation, 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.

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