Light plane crash at Beijing high-rise kills pilot

A light aircraft crash into Beijing’s tallest building killed the pilot and injured 13 people who were not on board, the local government said on Saturday, June 26, 2026. The single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft collided with the China Zun, also known as CITIC Tower, while flying near the East Third Ring Road in the Chaoyang district at 5:55 p.m. local time. Authorities said the 528-metre skyscraper suffered limited exterior damage, described as a hole caused by the loss of two large glass panels. Reuters reported it could not verify social media images showing debris and the identifier B-12PP. Flight tracking data indicated a two-seat Aurora SA60L made by Sunward, with registration B-12PP, was over Beijing before tracking stopped in downtown Chaoyang. Investigators cited no cause as of the statement.