A rare aviation incident unfolded in Beijing on June 26, 2026, when a small light sport aircraft reportedly struck the upper floors of the CITIC Tower (China Zun), the city’s tallest skyscraper standing at 528 meters in the central business district.
According to early reports, the aircraft — identified as a Sunward SA60L Aurora, a two-seat training plane operated by a general aviation company — was conducting a local flight when it deviated from its intended route. The plane is believed to have entered restricted airspace before colliding with the upper section of the 109-story building.
The impact caused visible damage to the tower’s exterior, including shattered glass and debris falling from the upper floors. Eyewitness accounts and circulating footage suggest smoke and structural disturbance near the point of impact, prompting an immediate evacuation of the building.
Emergency services quickly responded, securing the area and establishing a cordon around the surrounding district. Authorities have not yet confirmed the full extent of injuries, though initial reports indicate the aircraft carried only the pilot on board, with the pilot presumed to have died. No major casualties on the ground have been confirmed at this time.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation, with early possibilities including pilot disorientation, mechanical failure, or navigational error. Aviation experts note that such incidents are extremely rare in Beijing’s tightly controlled airspace, particularly over the central business district.
Despite the impact, reports indicate that the CITIC Tower remains structurally intact, with damage largely limited to the building’s exterior facade.
Officials are expected to release further details as the investigation continues.
