Get you up to speed: China won’t reveal why a plane crashed into Beijing’s highest building | News World
A small aircraft, identified as a B-12PP, crashed into the CITIC Tower in Beijing on Friday, resulting in one fatality and 13 injuries. The crash occurred within a no-fly zone, and the building has been boarded up as authorities investigate the incident.
Beijing district authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash, although the deceased pilot has not been identified. The plane had deviated from its intended flight path shortly after taking off from Shifosi Airport and lost tracking signals shortly before the incident.
Beijing district authorities have confirmed an investigation into the crash is underway, although the identity of the deceased pilot has not been released. Aviation firms have suspended light aircraft operations, with a source noting they were instructed not to discuss the incident further.
What remains unclear — The cause of the aircraft crash into Beijing’s CITIC Tower has not been disclosed by Chinese authorities.
China does not disclose details following plane crash into CITIC Tower
The world is still waiting for answers about why a plane slammed into Beijing’s tallest building.
The small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s famous CITIC Tower skyscraper on Friday, killing the only person on board and wounding 13 others.
The jet – identified as a B-12PP – plummeted to the ground and left holes in the 109-storey building, which has since been boarded up.
However, China has not revealed the cause of the crash and has reportedly made it impossible to access footage of the incident from within the country.
The only official statement to come out of China is a 60-word report detailing the basic facts in Beijing Daily.
The crash happened within a no-fly zone (Picture: AP Photo/Han Guan Ng)
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Aviation firms have also suspended light aircraft operations, the outlet said, with a source telling them: ‘We were told not to speak about it’.
Other national media outlets, including Xinhua news agency and China Central Television, have not reported on the incident, according to Reuters.
The plane involved in the crash had deviated from its intended flight path after taking off from Shifosi Airport half an hour earlier, according to Global.hk.
It was due to turn around and return to the airport for 5.45pm, but flight monitoring lost the tracking signal around Beijing’s East Fifth Ring Road.
After this, the aircraft could not be reached and moments later it crashed into the skyscraper.
The crash took place within a no-fly zone just a few kilometres from Zhongnanhai, the Communist Party’s heavily guarded headquarters.
The CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, is a popular tourist attraction in China’s capital (Picture: REUTERS)
China analyst Bill Bishop wrote on X that the crash was a ‘massive security breach’.
He said: ‘Not many more seconds of flying and [the crash] could have been at Zhongnanhai… [That would have been] an earthquake in Beijing’s security system.’
Beijing district authorities have said an investigation into the crash is underway, but have not named the pilot who died.
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