Beijing, China—A light aircraft crashed into the side of the China Zun skyscraper on Friday, killing the pilot and wounding thirteen people on the ground. The impact occurred at roughly 5:55 p.m., striking the upper glass facade of the 528-meter building. Local authorities confirmed the pilot was the only person aboard the vessel.

The CITIC Tower, known as China Zun, stands in the heart of the city’s Central Business District. Debris from the light sport aircraft rained down onto the streets near the East Third Ring Road. Emergency crews arrived within minutes to extinguish small fires at the building base.

Witnesses described a sudden mechanical hum followed by a sharp collision. Office workers inside the tower reported hearing a muffled thud that sent vibrations through the upper floors. Glass shards shattered outward, causing injuries to those standing near the exterior perimeter.

Government officials stated that the injured are receiving treatment at local hospitals. They provided no immediate details regarding the medical condition of those affected. Police sealed off the district to clear wreckage and secure the crash site.

Beijing maintains some of the most restrictive airspace regulations in the world. Unmanned drones are frequently banned, and private flight paths require strict authorization. The incident raises questions about how a single-engine plane reached the center of the capital.

The aircraft wreckage was identified by onlookers as a light sport model. Flight tracking data suggests the plane originated from a small airfield roughly 50 kilometers away. Investigators are now analyzing the flight path and communications logs from that location.

The hole in the skyscraper was temporarily boarded up by Saturday morning. Work crews spent the night removing damaged glass panels and ensuring structural integrity. Officials are currently reviewing building security and flight control protocols.

The investigation into the cause remains in the early stages. Authorities have not ruled out mechanical failure or human error. No information regarding the pilot identity has been released to the public.