ALBAWABA- A small light aircraft crashed into the upper floors of CITIC Tower (China Zun), Beijing's tallest skyscraper, on Friday evening, sending debris onto nearby streets and prompting a large-scale emergency response and evacuation.
The crash occurred at around 6:00 p.m. local time at the 109-story, 528-meter (1,732-foot) skyscraper in Beijing's Central Business District. Videos circulating on social media showed debris and aircraft wreckage falling from the building, while images indicated shattered windows and visible damage to the tower's exterior.
The aircraft was identified as a Sunward SA60L Aurora light sport aircraft, registered as B-12PP and operated by a local general aviation company. The single-engine propeller plane, piloted by Liu Junhua, had departed from Shifosi Airport at approximately 5:30 p.m. on a routine local flight before reportedly veering off course and striking the building.
Firefighters, police, and ambulance crews responded within minutes, cordoning off roads surrounding the skyscraper and evacuating occupants as emergency personnel assessed the scene. Authorities also restricted filming in the area.
Officials have not confirmed whether there were casualties inside the building or on the ground. The condition of the pilot also remained unclear in initial reports. The aircraft was destroyed on impact.
Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. No official findings have been released, and investigators have not indicated whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors may have contributed to the incident.
The incident remains under investigation, with further details on casualties, structural damage, and the official cause of the crash expected as authorities continue their inquiry.
