Full Breakdown
Aircraft Collision with Beijing’s CITIC Tower
6/26/2026, 9:31:09 PM
Collision at Beijing’s CITIC Tower
On Friday, June 26 2026, a Sunward SA 60L Aurora light-sport aircraft (registration B-12PP) struck the side of Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, the CITIC Tower—also called China Zun—around 5:55 p.m. local time. The impact shattered two glass panels, sent the plane’s tail section and debris onto the street, and prompted evacuation, road closures and deployment of police, fire trucks and ambulances.
Airspace Restrictions in Beijing
Beijing’s airspace is tightly controlled. Since May 1, 2026, a city-wide drone ban and strict flight-plan approvals limit private aviation, making unauthorized flights into the central business district highly unusual.
Key Facts and Figures
The 108-story (some reports 109) CITIC Tower stands 528 m (1,732 ft) tall and houses the state-owned CITIC Group. The Sunward SA 60L Aurora is a two-seat light sport plane owned by a local general-aviation firm. Impact time was about 18:00 local; two glass panels were broken, a small fire and smoke were seen at ground level, and dozens of police vehicles, several fire trucks and multiple ambulances responded.
Eyewitness Accounts
Bystanders described a “loud crash, louder than fireworks.” A courier arriving at 6 p.m. filmed the aircraft protruding from the tower before deleting the video to avoid police. An office worker saw a blue tarp covering a VW-Beetle-sized object, and a gym employee reported a woman with a head injury taken by ambulance.
Official Responses
Chinese authorities have not issued a comment. The Beijing Public Security Bureau’s district branch told CNN it was “not familiar with the situation” and gave an unanswered number. FlightRadar24’s spokesman Ian Petchenik said the aircraft is normally used for pilot training east of Beijing, described the flight as out of character, and said investigators could not rule out any cause.
Transparency Concerns
Observers noted rapid removal of footage from Chinese social-media and police orders to delete images, raising transparency concerns. The absence of casualty figures or a cause explanation has been criticized as insufficient public information.
Discrepancies and Unknowns
Sources differ on the tower’s story count—108 versus 109—and on casualty numbers, with only a single head injury reported. No cause has been confirmed, the pilot’s identity remains unknown, and flight-tracking data showing a severe deviation is unverified.
Direct Quotes
- “It was so loud — louder than fireworks.” — courier, Reuters witness
- “We all know why!” — police officer, Reuters interview
- “The plane that crashed into the building is normally used for pilot training east of Beijing.” — Ian Petchenik, FlightRadar spokesperson
- “I don’t think we can rule anything out at this point.” — Ian Petchenik, FlightRadar spokesperson
Investigation and Next Steps
Beijing has launched an investigation into the flight path, pilot actions, weather and possible technical failures. Updates are expected as investigators examine radar data, the wreckage and interview witnesses.
