On 2 July 2026 a 66‑year‑old pilot named Liu, a resident of Chaoyang district in Beijing, crashed a small Aurora SA60L plane into the 109‑storey CITIC Tower, the city’s tallest building. The impact killed the pilot and caused injuries to 13 people on the ground.
According to the Chaoyang government, Liu had been dealing with chronic insomnia and anxiety and acted on "personal reasons" that drove him to his fatal flight. The report cites expressions of end‑life in Liu’s diary as evidence of his state of mind.
The incident left a stark reminder of Beijing’s growing aviation profile: the plane in question was a two‑seat, single‑engine aircraft suitable for tours and recreational flying, a type now under scrutiny after the crash.
Social media around the crash was removed from Chinese platforms as authorities investigated what many saw as a major security lapse. The video of debris falling from the tower, once widely circulated, was taken down by state censors.
The CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, sits only kilometres from Zhongnanhai, the heart of the Communist Party. The tower’s design and status have made it a cultural icon; the crash has forced a rethink of its symbolic meaning as a “lucky charm.”
Local aviation firms reported a temporary halt to light aircraft operations following the incident. Liu’s flight path, taken from a local airport in Pinggu district, was noted to have deviated from the designated area before the plane lost contact with the departure airport.
Fly tracking data confirms the aircraft was an Aurora SA60L from Chinese manufacturer Sunward. The plane’s 6.9‑metre length and 8.6‑metre wingspan make it popular for touring and aerial photography. Authorities have said enforcement of safety regulations may increase in the wake of the tragedy.
