Small Aircraft Crashes into Beijing’s Tallest Skyscraper

A small SA60L Aurora aircraft collided with Beijing’s 108-story CITIC Tower on Friday, June 26, prompting evacuations and a heavy-handed security response from local authorities at the scene.

Impact at China Zun

The incident occurred on Friday, June 26, in Beijing’s business district. A small SA60L “Aurora” aircraft struck the 108-story CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, which is the tallest building in the Chinese capital. The South China Morning Post reported that authorities evacuated people from the skyscraper following the collision.

Damage and Witness Accounts

The aircraft damaged two glass panels on the building’s facade. A courier present at the scene described the noise as extremely loud, noting it was louder than fireworks. Other witnesses arrived after viewing images of the wreckage circulating on social media.

Police Control and Censorship

Fire and police services quickly secured the area, preventing passersby from filming the crash site. Officials ordered some individuals to delete their footage, leading one witness to scrub their recording out of fear of confrontation. Similar content was subsequently removed from various Chinese social media platforms.

Journalists Dismissed from Site

At the scene, police ordered journalists from Reuters to leave the area. When asked for a reason, an officer stated, “We all know why.” As of the time of publication, authorities have issued no official statement and did not respond to requests for comment.