Small plane hits Beijing's tallest building, debris rains down

A small aircraft crashed into the exterior of the Citic Tower, Beijing's tallest building, in the city's central business district on Wednesday afternoon. The incident caused significant damage to the building's facade, with debris falling onto the busy streets below.

Social media footage showed parts of the aircraft, believed to be a small propeller plane, and building fragments plummeting from dozens of stories high. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing flames erupt from the building's exterior. The area was crowded with commuters during the evening rush hour, raising concerns about potential casualties.

Authorities have cordoned off the area and deployed a large police presence. The exact number of casualties and the condition of the pilot remain unconfirmed. The aircraft is reportedly registered to a local flight training company, but the company has not responded to inquiries. Chinese social media platforms have reportedly censored or restricted posts related to the incident.