In the Chinese capital, a light aircraft reportedly crashed into Beijing's tallest building – the 109-story CITIC Tower skyscraper, also known as China Zun. CNN reports, citing UNN.
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Videos from the scene have circulated on social media, showing debris falling from the skyscraper. The tail section of the aircraft and a taxi with a broken window were also recorded on the ground.
A CNN journalist who was nearby reported that people were evacuated from the building. Firefighters, police, and ambulance crews were working near the skyscraper.
Chinese authorities have not yet released official information about the cause of the incident or possible casualties. The Beijing District Public Security Bureau told CNN journalists that they have no information about the event, and requests to other government agencies remained unanswered at the time of publication.
According to preliminary data, based on the registration number, the aircraft may be a Chinese-made Sunward SA60L Aurora light sports plane, belonging to a local airline that provides pilot training, sightseeing flights, and aerial photography services.
Unofficial data from the Flightradar24 service, published online, indicates that after taking off from Shifosi airfield, the aircraft sharply deviated from its planned route.
CNN notes that the incident occurred in Beijing, which is considered one of the most protected cities in the world. Since May 1, strict restrictions on the use of drones have also been in effect in the Chinese capital – the purchase, rental, and flight of drones without government permission are prohibited.