Credited from: INDIATIMES
A small aircraft, approximately the size of a car, crashed into Beijing's tallest building, CITIC Tower, on Friday, June 26. Eyewitness accounts detail a loud crash at around 6 p.m., followed by evacuations as police sealed off roads and restricted passersby from filming the scene, according to South China Morning Post, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.
Images from the scene showed damage to the building, including broken glass panels on one of its upper floors. A significant emergency presence, including police and fire engines, surrounded the tower, which serves as the headquarters for the state-owned CITIC Group, reports India Times and NPR.
Witnesses recounted the moment of impact, saying the noise was overwhelming, with one saying, "It was so loud – louder than fireworks." Additionally, social media posts regarding the incident were quickly deleted, highlighting censorship following the crash, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, and no official comments have been made by authorities thus far, marking a developing situation heavily watched by both emergency services and the public, as covered by South China Morning Post, Reuters, and NPR.