A small aircraft reportedly crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper on Friday, leaving visible damage to the building and prompting a major emergency response in the Chinese capital.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing aircraft debris at the base of the 528-metre CITIC Tower, while AFP journalists observed a large hole in the windows of one of the building’s upper floors.
Video footage recorded from a nearby building showed several fire trucks spraying water onto small fires burning on a ledge near the ground level of the skyscraper as well as on the surrounding pavement.
The footage also appeared to show part of a small aircraft lying beside the building.
Another video circulating on Chinese social media showed debris falling from the skyscraper shortly after the reported impact. However, AFP said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the clip.
The CITIC Tower, located near the headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV) in eastern Beijing, quickly became the centre of a large emergency operation.
Police officers, ambulances and emergency personnel flooded the area, while security officials established cordons around the site and prevented members of the public from taking photographs.
Authorities declined to comment on the incident when approached by AFP.
One finance worker who witnessed the aftermath described the crash as unusual.
“I don’t know why the plane would fly in here. It really is quite strange,” the witness said, requesting anonymity.
Another individual who works inside the CITIC Tower said he noticed what appeared to be aircraft wreckage while evacuating the building.
“I saw debris on my way out. It looked like part of a plane,” he said.
As emergency operations continued, dozens of cleaning personnel gathered near the police barricades.
One woman who had been inside the building said workers were instructed to evacuate immediately using the staircases instead of elevators.
“I ran down dozens of floors in a hurry,” she recalled.
Two men believed to be members of the building’s management team later instructed the cleaning staff to leave the area.
“No one can get in now,” one of them told the group.
Witnesses Express Shock
Several residents and bystanders described the incident as unprecedented for Beijing.
A middle-aged woman watching from across the street said she was stunned by the reports.
“This kind of thing wouldn’t happen in Beijing. This is Beijing… It’s pretty common abroad, but in China, it shouldn’t happen,” she said.
“I was very shocked.”
A university student who arrived shortly after the incident said he learned about the reported crash through an online aviation enthusiasts’ group.
He added that images and discussions relating to the incident were disappearing rapidly from Chinese social media platforms.
Strict Airspace Controls
The CITIC Tower, one of Beijing’s most recognisable landmarks, has 108 floors above ground and seven basement levels and accommodates approximately 12,000 office workers.
China maintains some of the world’s strictest airspace controls, particularly over Beijing, where aviation activity is tightly regulated for security reasons.
Earlier this year, authorities announced restrictions on drone sales in the capital and introduced new rules requiring operators to obtain permission before flying drones within the city.
In April, Chinese authorities also imposed a 40-day restriction on civilian flights over a large section of airspace near Shanghai, although no official explanation was provided.
Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the reported crash, identify the aircraft involved or disclose whether there were any casualties.
