Chinese authorities said on Saturday that a small plane crash in Beijing’s Chaoyang district on Friday evening killed its pilot and injured 13 others.
A two-seat light sport aircraft crashed into a high-rise building just before 6pm, district authorities stated via WeChat.
While the brief statement did not identify the building or pilot, global flight tracking service Flightradar24 identified the structure as the iconic CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun.
Rising over 1,700 feet (528 metres), this 108-storey skyscraper, shaped like an ancient Chinese wine vessel, is Beijing’s tallest and a prominent landmark.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, particularly given Beijing’s stringent airspace controls, which include a recent drone ban.
The injured are receiving full medical treatment, and relevant authorities are investigating the incident, the statement said.
