The pilot of a small aircraft was killed after colliding with CITIC Tower in Beijing’s financial district Friday, June. 26. The pilot was the sole occupant of the plane, but debris from the incident injured 13 bystanders. Those injured are said to be receiving treatment while the Chinese government has said that the crash is under investigation by “relevant authorities.”
How Did This Happen?
China has some of the strictest aviation control in the world, with pilots having to pass a series of stringent tests in order to obtain a license.
The entire administrative area of the Beijing municipality, is also designated as a no-fly zone for aircraft of any size. The city’s two airports are both situated outside this area.
Despite this, flight tracking data suggests that plane involved in the crash, a Sunward Aurora SA60L with the registration number B-12PP, took off from the Pinggu district in the Northeast of the city.
From there it is believed to have flown west towards Beijing’s Chaoyang financial district, and collided with CITIC Tower, the tallest building in Beijing, which stands at a height of 528 m.
How Have the Authorities Responded?
Footage from the day of the crash shows a fire breaking out at the base of the tower, which was quickly extinguished by officers from the Chinese fire brigade, China Fire and Rescue.
Reports from the scene also say that roads leading to the tower were blocked by officers from the Chinese People’s Police.
One People’s Police officer allegedly said that
“There’s no particular reason, just traffic controls”
when asked why certain streets had been cordoned off.
The Chinese government didn’t release a statement acknowledging the incident until after the day of the crash, after the removal of the police cordon.
The statement said that the crash was under investigation by
“relevant authorities” and that a “Single-engine double-seat light sports aircraft collided with a high-rise building in flight.”
There has been no official word on the pilot’s identity, or what their motivations were for breaking Beijing’s no-flight restrictions.
Do flight restrictions need to be strengthened? Should the Chinese government have responded differently? Let us know what you think in the comments.
