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] On the evening of June 26, a shocking aviation incident occurred in the heart of Beijing. A small aircraft crashed into the CITIC Tower, known as 'China Zun', which is the tallest building in Beijing. Following the incident, Beijing authorities remained silent for a full 22 hours, only issuing a situation report for the first time on the afternoon of June 27. On the same day, a fire broke out less than 2 kilometers from China Zun, raising further suspicions about the entire incident. Analysts have suggested that the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party may interpret this as an assassination attempt. However, as of now, no relevant investigation results have been released by the authorities.
Authorities delayed their report for 22 hours; a fire broke out near 'China Zun'.
The official Weibo account of the Beijing Chaoyang Fire Department confirmed on the 27th that the aircraft involved was a light sport plane, with only the pilot on board, who died at the scene. Additionally, 13 people on the ground and around the building were injured and have been sent to the hospital for treatment.
The report did not address the true identity of the pilot, the flight approval process prior to takeoff, or why the interception system failed to respond. This has led to skepticism from the public, questioning whether this is a genuine investigation or simply a 'delaying tactic' to calm public opinion.
On the same day, a fire broke out near Huamao Bridge on Beijing's East Fourth Ring Road, with the fire location being less than 2 kilometers from the CITIC Tower that was struck by the aircraft on the 26th, producing a significant amount of thick smoke. Videos from the scene show large plumes of black smoke rising into the sky, with multiple fire trucks arriving for rescue efforts, and many passersby stopping to watch.
The official Weibo account of the Chaoyang Fire Department reported that at 5:37 PM on the 27th, a fire broke out near the north gate of Xunpi Factory Village in Gaobeidian Township, Chaoyang District. Fortunately, there were no casualties at the scene, the fire has been brought under control, and cleanup operations are currently in progress. However, the cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
Following the small plane crash into the Xinda Building, another fire occurred in Beijing the next day, prompting speculation among numerous netizens. Many comments included remarks such as, 'If these two incidents are unrelated, I will eat the plane wreckage,' 'This feels like a series of terrorist attacks,' 'Are you planning a rebellion?' 'It's quite lively before the 21st Congress,' and 'You can't really believe these are all just accidents, can you?'
In the aftermath of the building collision, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) did not report on the incident immediately and took strong measures to suppress the news. This timing coincided with the eve of the CCP's 105th anniversary on July 1, leading many netizens to suspect that the incident was not simply an accident, but rather part of a larger conspiracy: 'Those who can fly small planes in Beijing must have some connections,' and 'The news was suppressed quickly after the crash, even faster than the suppression of flood news.'
On the 27th, Professor Shen Rongqin from York University in Canada posted on Facebook that due to an official news blackout, Chinese netizens are relentlessly questioning AI for information, with only DeepSeek providing details about the sequence of events. The 'Doubao' was subjected to intense scrutiny but could not produce any information; 'Qianwen' was particularly notable, claiming that a small aircraft did collide with a building, but the incident actually took place in Osaka, Japan. Additionally, the Chinese Communist Party mobilized a significant number of overseas commentators to assert that the incident never occurred, insisting that no flying object could enter the third ring road and that all data was fabricated by AI, labeling it as blatant fake news.
The CITIC Tower, which was struck by the small aircraft, serves as the headquarters of the CITIC Group and stands at 528 meters, making it the tallest skyscraper in Beijing. Its architectural design is inspired by ancient Chinese bronze ritual vessels known as 'Zun', which is why it is also called 'China Zun', and it is one of the prominent landmarks in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD).
Suspicion surrounds the aircraft collision with China Zun
A report from the official 'Beijing Chaoyang' account attempted to classify the incident as a 'collision' involving a 'single light sport aircraft', but it left many astonishing mysteries for the public to ponder.
The first point of suspicion, which has left military and aviation experts baffled: how did this small aircraft manage to enter the most strictly controlled 'no-fly zone' in all of China?
In Beijing, the sky has never been free. The civil aviation industry uses a term known as 'Beijing Big Turn,' which requires all flights to intentionally avoid flying over the city center. Furthermore, starting in May 2026, in response to the complex situation, airspace control in Beijing will be further tightened: the sale of drones will be banned throughout the city, and even kites and sky lanterns will be strictly prohibited.
However, the aircraft identified as 'B-12PP,' a Shanhe Arola SA60L light plane, took off from Shifo Temple Airport in Pinggu District and flew southwest for approximately 60 kilometers, taking over 20 minutes before crashing into the 528-meter tall China Zun.
Sources have disclosed that the control tower had made multiple attempts to contact the aircraft prior to the incident, but there was no response. Military helicopters were dispatched to intercept, but by the time they arrived, the collision had already occurred.
The BBC noted in its report that this incident once again underscores the 'low, slow, small' aircraft defense challenge faced by many cities globally. Due to their low flight altitude, slow speed, and small radar cross-section, traditional air defense systems often struggle to detect such aircraft in a timely manner.
The 'Red Square Incident' of 1987, when a West German youth landed a plane in Moscow's Red Square, shattered the myth of the Soviet air defense's invincibility, resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of senior Soviet military officials. Now, despite stringent controls, the heart of Beijing has once again been penetrated by a 'low, slow, small' aircraft, highlighting not only a technical failure but also a significant vulnerability in the entire defense system.
The second question remains: who exactly is the pilot?
The official report does not disclose the identity of the pilot, yet a name has gained significant traction on social media—" Liu Junhua."
This is not without reason. A foreign journalist observed at the flight school "Dongshi Shuangyue," where the crashed aircraft was based, that police searched a black Buick Enclave SUV registered to "Liu Junhua." Interestingly, there is also a female executive named Liu Junhua at Citic Group's Citic Wealth Management.
The day following the incident, Citic Wealth Management's public account unexpectedly published an article featuring Liu Junhua discussing corporate development strategies. Given the highly sensitive nature of the situation, this article—lacking a photo of the individual and heavily implying a "safety report"—has only fueled further public skepticism. Is this merely a coincidence, or is the government attempting to obscure a potential link between the pilot and the building's owner? If the pilot is indeed affiliated with Citic, the incident's classification could shift from an "accident" to a more profound internal conflict.
On the 27th, Shen Rongqin, a professor at York University in Canada, disclosed on Facebook that leaked conversations from QQ (a Chinese messaging app) indicate that Liu Junhua's actions were driven by severe trading losses (margin call), and that she may have received substantial flight training, as the floor she crashed into is where her company is located.
He further speculates that the People's Liberation Army generals responsible for securing Beijing's airspace may face repercussions from Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.
The third point of contention is whether this incident was an accident or a deliberate act of crashing.
At present, there are two distinctly opposing perspectives.
The first category is referred to as a 'technical accident'. The Arolar SA60L is a single-engine aircraft, and if an engine failure occurs at low altitude, the pilot has very little room to maneuver. Alternatively, if the pilot experiences a sudden cardiac arrest or carbon monoxide poisoning during the flight, resulting in incapacitation, the aircraft may continue to glide along its intended path until it collides with the most prominent obstacle in the vicinity—the China Zun.
However, the possibility of a 'deliberate attack' cannot be dismissed. A report by the BBC indicates that experts from FlightRadar24 noted that the flight path of the aircraft that day was highly 'unusual'. Former CIA official Professor Wei Dening has openly suggested that the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party may interpret this incident as an assassination attempt.
The location of the China Zun is particularly sensitive. It is situated only about 6 kilometers from Zhongnanhai, and due to its elevation, one can use professional equipment to directly observe activities at Zhongnanhai from the top floor. Ming Pao reports that the top three floors 'may be under the management of national security agencies', and the observation platform is prohibited from facing Zhongnanhai. Visitors are required to undergo security checks and are not allowed to bring professional-grade high-powered telescopes or similar equipment.
On the eve of the 'July 1' anniversary of the party's founding, an aircraft approaching a landmark so close to the political center will be perceived as a blatant challenge to the highest security measures, regardless of the outcome of the subsequent investigation.
At present, the pressing questions that have captured public attention remain unanswered: How did the aircraft manage to enter the core no-fly zone in Beijing? What is the identity of the pilot? Was it due to mechanical failure, pilot error, or some other reason? The official statement issued 22 hours later did not alleviate the concerns; instead, it raised even more questions. It is likely that the skies over Beijing will soon be subject to an unprecedented 'strictest no-fly order'.
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