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last mo.

Small Plane Deliberately Flown Into Beijing’s Citic Tower, Pilot Dead and 13 Injured

Chaoyang District officials say the pilot had long-standing insomnia with diary entries showing suicidal intent, leading investigators to probe flight-rule breaches and urban-security risks.

Des personnes se rassemblent près de la tour Citic, le 26 juin 2026 à Pékin, alors que l’épave d’un avion gît au sol.
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Overview

  • A small private aircraft struck the 528-metre Citic Tower in eastern Beijing in a deliberate act, killing the 66-year-old pilot and injuring 13 people.
  • Chaoyang District authorities reported that the pilot suffered long-term insomnia and anxiety and that his diary contained repeated statements of intent to end his life.
  • Officials said the pilot departed from an airfield in Pinggu, left the authorized flight zone and lost all communication before steering the plane into the skyscraper.
  • Authorities confirmed the pilot held a sport pilot license from 2021 and a private pilot license from 2024, and emergency teams and police sealed the scene while the investigation continues.
  • The crash has raised alarm because the Citic Tower sits within Beijing’s central business district and close to government headquarters, prompting questions about aviation controls and urban security measures.