Share Source: Ukrinform
In China, a light sports aircraft collided with the tallest skyscraper in the capital, the Citic Tower, leading to an evacuation and scattering debris across the central business district of the Chinese capital.
Key takeaways:
- A plane crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper.
- It was a two-seater, single-engine light sports aircraft, the Sunward SA60L Aurora, manufactured by the Chinese company Starair Aircraft Co.
Plane Crash in Beijing: Aircraft Hits Skyscraper
Videos circulating on social media depict the aircraft striking the upper floors of the 528-meter tower, with fragments falling onto the adjacent sidewalk and greenery. Additional footage captured the evacuation of occupants from the building.
Currently, it remains unclear whether the incident resulted in fatalities or how many individuals were aboard the aircraft.
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An eyewitness working in a nearby building reported hearing a loud noise but did not witness the crash itself. Police cordoned off the roads surrounding the crash site and dispersed onlookers, maintaining an increased police presence around the skyscraper.
Several ambulances were also observed near the structure.
Based on images of debris posted on social media, specifically the tail number of the aircraft – B-12PP, the publication identified the plane through records on the Flightradar24 application. It was identified as a two-seater, single-engine light sports aircraft, the Sunward SA60L Aurora, manufactured by the Chinese company Starair Aircraft Co.
One social media post claimed that this aircraft was operated by a local company offering private pilot training and aerial sightseeing tours.
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It is noteworthy that posts concerning the crash were promptly removed from Chinese social media platforms.
An eyewitness told the South China Morning Post that she was urgently evacuated from the building approximately 30 minutes after the incident.
The Citic Tower serves as the headquarters of China International Trust and Investment Corporation, one of China’s largest state-owned multinational conglomerates. Completed in late 2018, it stands as Beijing’s tallest building, surpassing the China World Trade Center Tower III by approximately 190 meters.