On June 26, a small plane crashed into the CITIC Tower (China Zun), Beijing's tallest building, with wreckage scattered around the site. (Reposted from X platform)
[People News] News emerged on June 26 on Chinese social media about a small plane crashing into the CITIC Tower, which led to widespread discussion among netizens. However, the authorities quickly deleted the news and comments, and users reported that it was impossible to find any related information on Chinese networks. As of now, there has been no official report on casualties.
Reports from various social media bloggers indicate that the plane took off from Shifo Temple Airport in Beijing at 5:30 PM, with a scheduled return at 5:40 PM. However, after entering its flight path, it failed to land normally and gradually deviated from its planned route.
Around 6 PM, the ill-fated plane crashed into the CITIC Tower, breaking apart and scattering debris into the air. The wreckage fell onto the first floor and the street, producing thick black smoke. Following the impact, two glass panels on the exterior of the CITIC Tower were shattered, and people inside the building were urgently evacuated. Several fire trucks quickly arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire, and innocent vehicles parked on the roadside were also struck by the plane's debris, resulting in a large hole in the rear windshield.
Some netizens managed to capture the moment just before the small plane crashed into the CITIC Tower (left image); the wreckage of the plane was seen scattered on the road (right image). (Reposted from X platform)
Several media outlets have reported, citing Reuters, that the area was cordoned off following the incident, with traffic controls implemented on some roads. A significant police presence was established at the scene to prevent the public from filming and to demand the deletion of any related footage. Witnesses at the scene mentioned hearing a loud bang near the building, with some describing the sound as louder than fireworks.
Visible wreckage identified the aircraft as B-12PP. According to netizens, the crashed small plane belonged to Beijing Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation Co., Ltd., and was a domestically produced light sport aircraft model known as 'Aruola SA60L,' which has two seats. Dongshi Shuangyue General Aviation offers services such as aerial tours, performance flights, and pilot training, with its base located at Beijing Pinggu Shifo Temple General Airport.
Reports online indicated that the aircraft was piloted by a captain named Liu Junhua, who took off from Beijing Pinggu Shifo Temple Airport at 5:30 PM, with a scheduled return at 5:40 PM. However, the plane failed to land as expected and gradually veered off course, heading towards downtown Beijing. The last signal from the aircraft was detected around the East Fifth Ring Road, after which contact was lost.
The building that was struck, known as the CITIC Tower, serves as the headquarters for the state-owned CITIC Group and is located in the Chaoyang business district. It is also referred to as China Zun, standing at 528 meters tall, making it the tallest building in Beijing and a prominent city landmark.
Numerous overseas netizens commented, 'Beijing is a no-fly zone; this is quite remarkable.' If the plane had deviated a bit more, it could have crashed into Zhongnanhai. This incident is likely to cause some concern among the leaders in Zhongnanhai for some time.
A user on platform X, 'Andy Memo', commented: Typically, planes arriving and departing from Beijing Capital Airport navigate through areas like Tongzhou and Shunyi to avoid the main urban center. The recent crash into the glass bottle (Chinese bottle) likely wasn't accidental. This incident occurred in the Guomao business district, a prominent landmark in Beijing, and just a few kilometers further west lies Tiananmen.
Another user on platform X, 'Erka', asked: What is going on in Beijing? In the heart of Beijing's CBD, the tallest building has been struck, debris is scattered everywhere, and anti-terror helicopters have been deployed for patrol... It's incredibly shocking!
User '@gcd0318' remarked: It appears this was indeed a deliberate act, as they were aware it was a small plane with limited destructive power, so they opted not to intercept it, concealing the capabilities of the air police.
User 'Ji Chunsheng Er Ai Liu Zhi Er' stated: If it had been just a bit different, it could have changed the course of Chinese history.
Commentator Cai Shenkun posted: The tallest building in Beijing, Guomao Phase III, has been hit by an airplane! The heavily fortified city of Beijing is no longer safe, and Zhongnanhai must be in chaos! Who had the audacity to do this? Cai Qi, who is in charge of security, is going to face serious consequences!
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