A small aircraft about the size of a car crashed into Beijing’s CITIC Tower, the city’s tallest skyscraper, shortly before 6 p.m. local time on June 26, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, is a 108-storey, 528-meter (1,732-foot) skyscraper located in Beijing's central business district and serves as the headquarters for the state-owned CITIC Group [5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 4].

The aircraft involved was identified as a domestically produced Sunward SA60L Aurora, a two-seat light-sport plane [7, 8, 4]. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft took off about 30 miles east of Beijing and the recorded flight path ended shortly before the crash [4].

The plane struck the upper floors of the tower, causing damage including two broken glass panels and a large hole in the upper section of the building [1, 2, 9, 3, 6, 4]. Debris, including the aircraft’s tail section, fell to the pavement around the base of the skyscraper [5, 1, 6, 7, 8, 4]. Fire alarms inside the building were triggered by the impact [4].

Emergency responders quickly arrived on scene, extinguishing fires at the tower’s base and outcroppings [5, 1, 6, 4]. Police closed roads around the tower, cordoned off the area, and maintained a heavy presence. They also prevented bystanders from filming or required deletion of videos taken near the site [1, 2, 9, 3, 4]. Occupants of the building were evacuated shortly after the incident began [1].

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. A courier near the building said, "It was so loud – louder than fireworks" [2]. A woman surnamed Lin said she ran outside without retrieving her ID card or bag [1]. A police officer tersely remarked when asked about the crash, "We all know why!" [9].

No immediate official comment or confirmation has been made by the Beijing municipal government or other authorities [5, 2, 9, 3, 7, 4]. Social media posts about the crash were quickly censored on Chinese platforms [2, 9, 3, 4]. There have been no immediate reports regarding casualties, and the cause of the crash and pilot identity remain unknown [7, 8, 4].

The investigation and response to the incident remain ongoing. Authorities have closed the area to the public and continue efforts to assess the damage and secure the site.