An atypical incident shook the Chinese capital this Friday (26), when a small aircraft collided with the highest skyscraper in Beijing. Witnesses reported the clash to the Reuters news agency, and the city police acted quickly, cordoning off the area around the building.
Video records of the incident, which began circulating on social media this morning and were verified for authenticity, show the small aircraft at the moment it hit the vertical structure of the tower.
The impact of the collision resulted in the breakage of at least two glass panels on the facade, leaving a visible opening in the building. The aircraft, whose size was compared to that of a car by Reuters witnesses, partially fragmented and debris fell onto the street.
Until the last update of this report, there was still no official information about the existence of deaths or injuries as a result of the accident.
Action by the authorities and the official silence of the Chinese government
The scene of the incident was marked by a strong police presence, according to Reuters reports. Some access roads to the building were blocked for vehicles, and agents were seen preventing people from taking photographs and moving pedestrians away from the tower.
The local government has not publicly commented on what happened so far, maintaining official silence about the collision. The lack of immediate statements underscores the unusual and potentially serious nature of a plane crash in a densely controlled urban area, raising important questions about safety protocols and emergency response capabilities in metropolises like Beijing.
Discover the Citic Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the capital
The affected building, known as Citic Tower or China Zun, is an imposing 108-story structure and the tallest skyscraper in Beijing. Located in the financial district, in the east of the city, the tower houses the headquarters of the state-owned conglomerate Citic Group.