A small plane crashed into the tallest skyscraper in Beijing Friday afternoon, sending debris raining down on the streets of China’s capital city.

Dramatic social media footage showed shattered windows in the 109-story CITIC tower, also known as China Zun, and the plane’s shorn-off tail section on the streets of Chaoyang, Beijing’s largest and most populous urban district.

今天一辆直升机撞上中华尊，目前国内全网封杀中 pic.twitter.com/579E2Pf9FN

— Light&salt (@eric50847957) June 26, 2026

Local media reported the aircraft was a B-12PP, a Chinese-made single-engine, two-seat light aircraft, which struck the building around 6 p.m. local time.

It took off from Shifosi Airport 30 minutes before the crash and was slotted to return to the same airport when it strayed from its planned flight path.

The flight was being tracked until the signal was lost near Beijing’s East Fifth Ring Road and was not heard from again.

Two windows on the 1,700-foot tower were shattered in the crash, and thick smoke was seen pouring out of the ground floor of the building as it was evacuated.

Several roadways near the building were closed off, and witnesses told Global.hk that Beijing police rapidly stepped up its presence in the area.

The outlet reported police officers were stopping passersby on the streets from taking photos, and several of the videos showing the damage posted on social media have been taken offline.

It was not immediately known whether there were any casualties or injuries, but Global.hk reports the plane’s pilot was flying solo.

The cause of the crash is not yet known.