Small Plane Strikes Beijing's CITIC Tower, Triggering Evacuation

A small training aircraft struck the CITIC Tower — Beijing's tallest building — on the evening of June 26, 2026. The impact occurred at approximately 6 p.m. local time, leaving a visible hole in the upper facade of the 1,732-foot skyscraper and showering debris onto streets in the city's Central Business District, according to reports from NPR and CNN.

Wreckage identification and registration data point to the aircraft as a Sunward SA60L Aurora, a Chinese-manufactured two-seat light sport aircraft registered B-12PP and operating out of Shifosi Airport in Pinggu District. Unverified flight-tracking data, cited by aviation channel TakingOff, suggests the aircraft deviated from its training circuit and continued westward toward the city center after failing to complete its approach.

Emergency Response and Official Silence

Emergency personnel evacuated the tower, with a heavy police and fire brigade presence reported at the scene. Some accounts indicate a taxi was struck by falling debris. Chinese authorities have issued no formal public statement on casualties or cause. Reuters, via TakingOff, reported that police on scene instructed bystanders to delete mobile phone footage of the incident — a move that drew attention given a broader restriction on recreational flying in Beijing, reportedly in effect since May 1, 2026, under rules requiring both civilian and military authorization for approved flights.