A small aircraft crashed into a high-rise building in Beijing on Friday evening, resulting in the death of the pilot and injuries to 13 others, Chinese authorities reported on Saturday. The incident occurred at 5:55 p.m. local time in the Chaoyang district, a major business area of the city.

According to the authorities, a single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft collided with a skyscraper near the East Third Ring Road. The pilot was the sole occupant of the plane and was killed in the crash. The 13 injured individuals were receiving medical treatment, though it was not immediately clear whether they were inside the building or affected by falling debris.

Flight tracking data indicated that the plane, identified as a Sunward SA 60L Aurora, took off from an airport approximately 50 kilometers east of Beijing and traveled westward before crashing into the building. Flight path information and photos revealed impact marks on the glass facade of the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, which is Beijing’s tallest building at 528 meters and comprises 108 floors. The tower is located in a cluster of skyscrapers just east of a major ring road and is close to significant landmarks including Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of China’s top leadership, and the Forbidden City.

Security measures were visible at the scene, with police, fire trucks, and ambulances responding quickly to the incident. Witnesses described seeing debris at the base of the building and flames that firefighters extinguished shortly after the crash. Authorities blocked onlookers from photographing the scene, and social media posts related to the crash were swiftly removed from Chinese online platforms, though some footage has circulated outside of China.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Beijing enforces stringent airspace restrictions, particularly in central areas, and recently implemented tighter controls on drone usage, including a ban on drone sales and mandatory flight permissions within the capital. The limited official communication and quick censorship of information have led some observers to suggest efforts to minimize public attention on the event. The official statement issued by authorities received minimal coverage in domestic media.

The investigation into the crash continues as authorities seek to determine what led to this rare aviation incident in the heavily regulated airspace of Beijing.