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China Confirms Death of Pilot Who Flew Small Plane Into Beijing’s Tallest Tower
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- A small two-seat, single-engine sport aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest building, Citic Tower, on Friday evening, killing the pilot and injuring 13 others at the scene.
- The crash occurred near a major business district in Chaoyang District, prompting a police perimeter and ongoing investigation by authorities.
- The incident raised security concerns due to the plane's unexpected flight into the city center, which is tightly controlled airspace, especially given the calm weather and distance from airports.
- The aircraft was identified as belonging to Shuangyue General Aviation, a regional flight training provider, and had only flown in the outlying Pinggu District in recent months before the crash.
- A visible hole remains in the building, and police continue to question pedestrians near the site while investigating the circumstances of the crash.
