This is a developing story; casualty figures and the cause are unconfirmed.
A small plane crashed into the China Zun, the tallest building in Beijing, on Friday, sending debris down the tower's facade and forcing an evacuation in the heart of the Chinese capital's central business district, according to news reports and footage from the scene.
The building and the aircraft
The China Zun — also known as the CITIC Tower — rises about 528 meters (1,732 feet), making it Beijing's tallest skyscraper. Footage circulating on social media and described by CNN showed damage to the building and wreckage on the ground nearby. Reports identified the aircraft as a small, Chinese-made light plane based on markings visible in images; its registration and ownership had not been officially confirmed.
Casualties and cause unknown
As of publication, Chinese authorities had not released casualty figures, and it was not clear how many people were aboard the aircraft or whether anyone in or around the building was hurt, KRDO reported. No cause had been established, and newsparlor is not drawing conclusions from unverified flight-tracking data circulating online. Beijing has tightened restrictions on low-altitude flights over the city in recent months, though it was not clear whether or how those rules bore on Friday's flight.
Response
Witnesses described emergency vehicles surrounding the tower and occupants gathered on the streets outside as the building was evacuated. Official statements from Beijing's municipal government and China's civil aviation authority had not been issued at the time of writing. newsparlor will update this report as verified information becomes available.
