Overview
- A small training aircraft struck the facade of the Citic Tower in Beijing’s central business district and then fell, killing the sole pilot.
- Municipal officials said the plane departed Shifosi Airport and hit the building around 18:00 local time on Friday evening, and investigators are working to establish the cause.
- Thirteen people on the ground were treated for injuries and later discharged from hospital, and emergency teams mounted a large police and rescue response at the scene.
- The Beijing municipal government said no other aircraft were involved and reported that images and videos of the crash circulating online were rapidly removed.
- The accident drew attention because the Citic Tower sits in a closely controlled airspace, so officials and aviation regulators will review flight data, wreckage and communications to guide safety and policy steps.