Light Aircraft Crashes Into 108-Story Beijing Landmark, Chinese Authorities Seal Off Site

Accident at the 528m Landmark "China Zun"
Videos Spread on Social Media, No Official Statement from Authorities

Foreign media have reported that a small aircraft collided with the tallest building in Beijing, China. Immediately after the incident, large-scale controls were implemented in the area, but as of June 27, 2026, it has not been confirmed whether there were any casualties or what caused the accident.

According to Yonhap News Agency on June 26, citing sources such as the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and CNN, a light aircraft crashed into CITIC Tower, a 108-story skyscraper located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Beijing, earlier that afternoon.

Videos and photos capturing the scene of the accident quickly spread on social media platforms. The footage showed debris, apparently caused by the impact, falling from the upper floors of CITIC Tower to the ground. Other shared images included a taxi nearby with its rear window shattered, and wreckage presumed to be the aircraft’s tail section lying beneath the building.

Foreign media reported that a small aircraft collided with Citic Tower, the tallest building in Beijing, China. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Immediately after the accident, an emergency evacuation was carried out inside the building, and a large number of police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel were deployed to the site. Local witnesses told SCMP that they heard a loud explosion at around 5:40 p.m. Another building occupant said they received an emergency evacuation notice inside the building at around 5:50 p.m., shortly after the accident.

Chinese authorities promptly restricted access to the roads around the accident site and prevented citizens from approaching. Foreign media reported that police officers deployed at the scene demanded reporters withdraw and limited access. CNN noted that people evacuating the building witnessed successive arrivals of fire engines, police cars, and ambulances.

As of now, the Chinese government and state media have not issued any official statements regarding the incident. The number of casualties, people on board, and the cause of the accident remain unconfirmed. CNN reported that, when they contacted the Beijing Public Security Bureau, they received a response stating, "We are not aware of the situation."

Based on debris photos released on social media and aircraft registration information, foreign media reported that the aircraft involved is likely a two-seater, single-engine light aircraft, the "Sunward SA60L Aurora (B-12PP)," manufactured by China’s Starair. According to flight records from the flight tracking service Flightradar24, the aircraft deviated significantly from its scheduled flight path just before the accident.

The accident occurred at CITIC Tower, which serves as the headquarters of the state-owned financial conglomerate CITIC Group. Completed in 2018, the skyscraper has 108 floors and stands 528 meters tall, making it the tallest building in Beijing. Its shape resembles a traditional Chinese ceremonial wine vessel called a "Zun," which has earned it the nickname "China Zun."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.