On June 26, 2026, an event shocked not only the residents of the Chinese capital but the entire world in Beijing's business district. A light aircraft collided with CITIC Tower (China Zun) — the tallest skyscraper in China and one of the tallest buildings in the world. The incident, confirmed by leading global media outlets including Reuters and The New York Times, occurred around 18:00 local time.
The collision occurred in the upper section of the 109-story building. The impact created a noticeable hole in the tower's facade, and several panoramic windows were shattered. Unable to withstand the load, the aircraft disintegrated into two parts. A wing of the aircraft fell onto a nearby roadway, while the tail assembly and other burning debris crashed onto the canopy at the main entrance and the sidewalk. A thick column of smoke rose above the crash site.
According to aviation authorities, the crashed aircraft was a Chinese-made, two-seat light sports aircraft, the Sunward SA60L Aurora, with registration number B-12PP. The aircraft was operated by Shuangyue General Aviation Beijing. Preliminary data suggests the aircraft deviated from its agreed flight path for reasons currently unknown.
The situation inside the tower required immediate action. Immediately after the impact, sirens sounded, and an emergency evacuation of personnel and visitors of the CITIC Group financial conglomerate began. People left the building via stairwells. Beijing police promptly blocked traffic on several adjacent streets in the busy Chaoyang district. Dozens of emergency service crews and approximately 20 police vehicles were dispatched to the scene.
Witnesses report that there are casualties resulting from the falling debris. Medical personnel provided first aid to several individuals, and one woman with a head injury was taken away by an ambulance. The official number of fatalities and injured, including the pilots in the cockpit, continues to be verified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). At this time, no serious structural damage to the skyscraper itself has been recorded, although the investigation into the causes of the tragedy has already begun.