Chinese authorities are investigating a rare light aircraft crash after a single-engine, two-seat aircraft struck Beijing's tallest building, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people on the ground.
The incident occurred at 5:55 p.m. on June 26 near the East Third Ring Road in the Chaoyang district, where the aircraft collided with the 528-meter CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun.
The Chaoyang district government said the injured were receiving medical treatment while officials continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible cause or indicated whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.
According to the local government, the aircraft carried only the pilot, who died in the crash.
Damage to the skyscraper appeared limited to a section of the exterior where two large glass panels were destroyed, and the damaged area had been temporarily boarded up by Saturday.
Police maintained a heavy presence around the site following the crash, restricting access to nearby roads and moving people away from the building.
Some witnesses reported hearing a loud impact before emergency responders arrived.
Officials have not released additional information about the aircraft's operation or the pilot's affiliation.
Flight tracking data reviewed by Reuters showed an aircraft registered as B-12PP flying in Beijing's northeastern suburbs before heading toward the city center, with tracking ending at 5:55 p.m. in downtown Chaoyang.
The aircraft was identified as a two-seat Aurora SA60L light sport aircraft manufactured by China's Sunward.
A promotional video published in 2024 showed an aircraft with the same registration operated by Beijing-based Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation, although Reuters could not independently confirm ownership or operation at the time of the crash.
The company later said it could not confirm whether the aircraft belonged to its fleet.
The incident was unusual for Beijing, where airspace is heavily restricted, and marked the city's first reported aircraft crash since a tourist helicopter accident in 2022 that killed both pilots.