Small Plane Crashes Into Beijing’s Tallest Skyscraper, Triggering Evacuations

A small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper Friday evening, punching into the side of the massive office tower before breaking apart and sending debris raining onto the streets below.

The light sport aircraft struck the upper floors of the 109-story CITIC Tower—also known as China Zun—in Beijing’s central business district shortly after 6 p.m. local time, according to witness accounts and videos circulating online.

Footage posted to social media showed shattered glass, pieces of the aircraft falling to the ground and a visible hole in the side of the 1,732-foot skyscraper. Emergency crews quickly flooded the area as authorities evacuated portions of the building.

A small plane crashes into a 109-story skyscraper in Beijing, sending debris down the building’s side.

Local reports say the pilot Liu Junhua was conducting a solo flight in the local airspace, took off from Shifosi Airport at 17:30, and at 17:40 prepared to return for landing.… pic.twitter.com/drmOgMvQ9E

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 26, 2026

The aircraft has been identified by multiple reports as a two-seat, single-engine sport plane that appeared to belong to a Beijing-area flying school.

Authorities have not said what caused the aircraft to veer into the skyscraper, and there has been no official word on the pilot’s condition or whether anyone inside the building was injured.

This story is developing…

Plane crashes into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, terrifying footage shows https://t.co/AYkN0C0ekY pic.twitter.com/RoHMiSEoKb

— New York Post (@nypost) June 26, 2026