Plane appears to crash into Beijing’s tallest building

A small plane appeared to crash into Beijing's CITIC Tower, the city's tallest skyscraper, on Friday, prompting a swift response from authorities and raising questions about the incident.

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I don’t know why the plane would fly in here. It really is quite strange.

Witnesses reported seeing plane debris at the base of the 528-meter (1,732-foot) building, and AFP journalists observed a hole in the windows of an upper floor. Video footage captured by onlookers showed fire trucks dousing small flames near the ground and on the skyscraper's exterior, as well as what appeared to be aircraft parts on the pavement. Social media clips, though unverified by AFP, also showed debris falling from the building.

Police and ambulances swarmed the scene, cordoning off the area and preventing people from taking photographs. One witness, a finance worker who spoke anonymously, described the event as "quite strange," questioning why a plane would fly into the area. Another individual working in the building reported seeing "part of a plane" on their way out.

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I saw debris on my way out. It looked like part of a plane.

Evacuation orders were issued, with cleaners instructed to leave via the stairs. Access to the building was completely restricted. The incident has caused shock, with one woman stating, "This kind of thing wouldn’t happen in Beijing... It’s pretty common abroad, but in China, it shouldn’t happen." A student who rushed to the scene noted that information and posts about the event were being rapidly deleted online, a common occurrence given China's strict airspace regulations, particularly around the capital.

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This kind of thing wouldn’t happen in Beijing. This is Beijing… It’s pretty common abroad, but in China, it shouldn’t happen.