A small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, the CITIC Tower (China Zun), on Friday, sending debris falling to the ground. Eyewitnesses described the plane as roughly the size of a car, and social media footage captured the aftermath, including firefighters extinguishing a fire inside the building. The 108-story skyscraper, located in Beijing’s central business district, is the headquarters of the state-owned CITIC Group, one of China’s largest conglomerates. Authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
Immediate Response and Damage
Police sealed off roads around the tower, preventing passersby from filming or taking photos. Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash around 6 p.m. local time (1000 GMT). Two glass panels on a high floor were damaged, and debris from the aircraft was visible on the ground. Social media posts about the incident were quickly removed from Chinese platforms, with searches returning only older content.
Unverified Footage and Police Presence
Videos circulating online showed debris falling from the collision site, though their authenticity could not be independently verified. A courier who filmed the wreckage later deleted the footage out of fear of police intervention. Dozens of police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances were deployed to the scene. The cause of the crash remains unclear.