The Kabul Tribune (KT) — A pilot was killed and 13 people on the ground were injured after a light aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on June 26, 2026, in a rare aviation accident in the Chinese capital, where airspace is tightly restricted, Reuters reported.
According to Beijing's Chaoyang district government, the single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft struck a high-rise building near the East Third Ring Road at about 5:55 p.m. local time. The pilot, who was the only person on board, died in the crash.
Authorities said the 13 injured people were not aboard the aircraft and are receiving medical treatment. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
The aircraft slammed into the 528-meter CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, in Beijing's Central Business District. The building sustained limited exterior damage, with two large glass panels destroyed, leaving a hole that had been temporarily covered by Saturday.
The skyscraper is located about six kilometers from the Forbidden City and near Zhongnanhai, the compound housing China's top political leadership.
Reuters reported that flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft, registered as B-12PP, took off from Beijing's northeastern suburbs at around 5:30 p.m. before flying in a wide circle and heading toward downtown Beijing. The tracking signal ended at 5:55 p.m., corresponding with the reported crash site.
Flight-tracking data identified the aircraft as an Aurora SA60L, a two-seat, single-engine light sport aircraft manufactured by China's Sunward.
Social media images circulating after the crash appeared to show debris from the aircraft bearing the registration number B-12PP, although Reuters said it could not immediately verify the authenticity of the images.
Reuters also reported that a promotional video published in 2024 suggested the aircraft was owned and operated by Beijing-based Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation. However, Reuters could not independently confirm whether the company still owned or operated the aircraft at the time of the crash or whether the pilot was affiliated with the company.
An employee of Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation told Reuters she could not confirm whether the aircraft belonged to the company. The promotional video, which was removed from Chinese social media on Friday evening, advertised 30-minute sightseeing flights departing from Shifuosi Airport for 880 yuan (about $129).
The company offers low-altitude sightseeing flights, introductory flight experiences and aviation training programs in Beijing's suburban Pinggu district.
The accident marks Beijing's first reported aircraft crash since 2022, when a tourist helicopter crashed between Changping and Fangshan districts, killing both pilots on board.
