A pilot was killed when his small aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest building, CITIC Tower, on Friday. Chinese authorities confirmed the pilot was the sole person aboard and that 13 people were injured at the scene.
The single-engine, two-seat plane struck the 528-meter skyscraper, also known as China Zun, at 5:55 p.m. local time. Witnesses reported debris at the building's base and a visible hole in the windows of an upper floor.
Video footage showed small flames on the ground being doused by fire trucks. Emergency services responded swiftly, with police cordoning off the area. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
China maintains strict airspace controls, particularly around Beijing. The 108-floor CITIC Tower is a major commercial hub in the city's central business district.