A small aircraft slammed into CITIC Tower, Beijing’s tallest building, on June 26 at approximately 6 pm local time. The crash left a visible hole in the skyscraper’s facade, sent debris raining onto the streets below, and triggered a full evacuation of the 109-story structure.
The building, also known as China Zun, stands 528 meters tall in the heart of Beijing’s Guomao central business district. It serves as the headquarters for state-owned CITIC Group, one of China’s largest conglomerates. Reports indicate that individuals inside the tower sustained injuries from the impact, though the full scope of casualties remains under investigation.
What we know so far
The aircraft has been identified as a Sunward SA-60L Aurora, a light-sport model manufactured in China.
Witnesses and footage from the scene showed shattered windows, smoke billowing from the point of impact, and chunks of the building’s exterior cladding scattered across the surrounding area. Emergency responders arrived quickly and began clearing the building floor by floor.
