Plane crashes into Beijing CITIC Tower, killing one and injuring 13

A small aircraft has crashed into Beijing's CITIC Tower, killing the only person on board and injuring 13 other people, according to the limited official information released so far. The impact left holes in the 109-storey skyscraper, which has since been boarded up. Authorities have not publicly explained why the aircraft came down.

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The plane was identified as a B-12PP, and reporting says it deviated from its intended flight path after taking off from Shifosi Airport about half an hour earlier. It was due to turn back to the airport at 5.45pm, but tracking signal was lost around Beijing's East Fifth Ring Road before the aircraft could be reached again. Moments later, it struck the tower.

The only official statement cited so far is a brief report in Beijing Daily, which gave the basic facts of the crash. Beijing district authorities have said an investigation is under way, but they have not named the pilot who died. Reporting also says videos of the incident have been removed from domestic internet platforms, while unrelated images of the skyscraper have also been taken down from social media.

The crash has drawn attention because it happened inside a no-fly zone only a few kilometres from Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded headquarters of the Communist Party. That location has added to concern about how the aircraft was able to reach the tower. One analyst described the incident as a major security breach, saying it could have had even wider consequences if the plane had flown a little further.

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The incident has also had immediate effects on aviation activity. Reporting says some aviation firms have suspended light aircraft operations after the crash, and at least one source said staff had been told not to speak about it. Other major national media outlets have not reported the incident in detail, according to the available reporting, leaving the public record limited to a small number of official and secondary accounts.

What remains unclear is the cause of the crash, the full extent of the injuries, and whether any wider safety or security failures are being examined. It is also not known when investigators will publish findings or whether flight restrictions in the area will change. For now, the case remains a live investigation with significant questions about aviation safety and access to information.

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