A small aircraft crashed into Beijing's iconic CITIC Tower on Friday, killing the sole occupant and injuring 13 others, but Chinese authorities have not disclosed the cause of the incident. The jet, identified as a B-12PP, struck the 109-storey skyscraper, leaving holes in the structure that have since been boarded up. The only official statement is a 60-word report in Beijing Daily detailing basic facts.
Footage removed and social media scrubbed
According to the BBC, videos of the crash have been removed from China's internet, and unrelated images of the skyscraper have been taken down from Chinese social media platforms. Aviation firms have suspended light aircraft operations, with a source telling the BBC: 'We were told not to speak about it.' National outlets including Xinhua and China Central Television have not reported on the incident, Reuters noted.
Flight path deviation and no-fly zone breach
The plane deviated from its flight path after taking off from Shifosi Airport 30 minutes earlier, according to Global.hk. It was scheduled to return to the airport at 5:45 pm, but tracking signals were lost near Beijing's East Fifth Ring Road. The aircraft could not be contacted and soon crashed into the tower. The crash occurred within a no-fly zone just a few kilometers from Zhongnanhai, the Communist Party's heavily guarded headquarters.
China analyst Bill Bishop wrote on X that the crash was a 'massive security breach.' He added: 'Not many more seconds of flying and [the crash] could have been at Zhongnanhai… [That would have been] an earthquake in Beijing's security system.'
Investigation underway but pilot unnamed
Beijing district authorities have stated that an investigation is underway but have not named the deceased pilot. The lack of transparency has drawn international attention, with questions mounting over the circumstances of the crash.
