By PTI — June 26, 2026
A light sport aircraft struck Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, the Citic Tower, on Friday evening, sending debris across the city’s central business district and prompting a large-scale evacuation.
Initial reports did not confirm any casualties or indicate how many people were on board. The origin of the flight and the circumstances that led to the crash remain unclear, and officials had not issued a formal statement by publication time. Posts and videos about the incident were quickly removed from Chinese social media platforms.
Video footage circulated online showed the aircraft hitting the upper floors of the 528-metre (1,732-foot) tower, with pieces of wreckage falling onto surrounding pavement and landscaped areas. Additional clips showed building occupants being led out by emergency personnel. A woman identified by the surname Lin told the South China Morning Post she was evacuated urgently at about 6:00 pm and left without her ID or bag. A nearby worker said he heard a loud noise around 5:40 pm but did not see the impact.
Police cordoned off roads around the site, dispersed onlookers, and maintained a heavy presence near the skyscraper. Several ambulances were parked close to the building.
Photographs of the wreckage showed a registration number of B-12PP. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 listed the aircraft as a Sunward SA60L Aurora, a two-seat, single-engine light-sport plane manufactured by Starair Aircraft Co. A social media post claimed the plane was operated by a local company offering private pilot training, aerial sightseeing and aircraft management; the company did not respond to calls on Friday night.
Flying light sport aircraft over Beijing requires strict approvals from both the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Authorities last month introduced broad airspace rules for the capital that effectively bar casual recreational flights and consumer drones; since then, almost all outdoor flights require prior government and air-traffic authorization.
Investigations into the crash, the aircraft’s operator, and whether regulatory procedures were followed are expected to follow. Authorities have not yet released further details.