Beijing city authorities on Saturday officially confirmed the previous day's crash of a light aircraft into the Chinese capital's tallest skyscraper, resulting in the death of the pilot.
Authorities in the Chaoyang district said the man was the only person on board the single-engine, two-seater aircraft. Thirteen people were injured at the scene. Authorities are investigating the incident, the statement continued.
The district did not name the tower where the accident occurred - Citic Tower, also known as China Zun. Instead, it referred generally to a high-rise building on the eastern Third Ring Road, where the skyscraper is located.
The crash site is very close to the CCTV broadcaster's headquarters, known for its square architecture and nicknamed "Big Pants." It is also only a few kilometres from the famous Forbidden City and Zhongnanhai, the government complex and power centre of the Communist Party.
Censorship on social media
According to reports, the plane crashed into the skyscraper at 5:55 pm (0955 GMT) on Friday. Police cordoned off streets around the 528-metre building as onlookers gathered to stare at the hole visible in the upper section of the facade.
State censors quickly intervened on social media, removing posts, photos and videos of the incident. Chinese state media also did not report on the incident on Friday.
However, numerous images circulated on Western news sites showing debris from the plane, firefighters extinguishing the blaze, and people filming the evacuation of the building shortly after the impact.
Why the aircraft crashed into the building remains unclear. Authorities have also not released any information about the pilot's identity.
According to media reports, he took off from an airfield in the far east of Beijing and flew toward the city centre. The registration number B-12PP indicated a Chinese-made Sunward SA 60L Aurora light sport aircraft.
The incident caused considerable astonishment, particularly because the city centre is a no-fly zone, where any flights must be specially authorized.
The Beijing security services are now paying especially close attention to drones and the city government recently tightened regulations for their ownership and use.
