A small aircraft appeared to strike the tallest building in China’s capital on Friday afternoon, sending debris down the side of the 109‑story CITIC Tower (China Zun) in a rare and alarming incident in one of the world’s most tightly controlled airspaces.
Eyewitness and social media video showed pieces falling from the skyscraper, a detached tail section from the plane, and a broken taxi window near the tower’s entrance. Fire trucks, police vehicles and an ambulance arrived as evacuated office workers gathered on nearby streets.
CNN reporters said authorities had not yet issued an official statement. A caller at the district branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau told CNN they were “not familiar with the situation” and referred the inquiry elsewhere; subsequent calls went unanswered. CNN also contacted the Beijing municipal government and a phone number listed for the aircraft’s owner.
Images circulating online showing the plane’s registration suggest the aircraft may be a domestically built light-sport model, the Sunward SA 60L Aurora, reportedly owned by a local general aviation company that offers pilot training, recreational flights and aerial photography. Unverified Flightradar24 data posted online indicated the aircraft’s flight path deviated sharply after takeoff from Beijing’s Shijingshan (Shifosi) airport.
Beijing has enforced strict no‑drone and general aviation restrictions since May 1, prohibiting residents from buying, renting or flying drones in the city without government approval. That context made the sight of any small aircraft over the central business district especially unsettling for residents. One witness, Anna, told CNN she feared how a flight could have been allowed near the city’s busiest business area: “I’m actually scared about it… this is central business district, how could they allow a flight in the air for 20 minutes to get into this district.”
Authorities and aviation officials have not yet confirmed the cause, casualties, or damage. This remains a developing story; updates will follow as officials release more information.
