A light aircraft the size of a car has crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, sending debris falling to the ground and prompting authorities to restrict members of the public from filming the incident, according to reports.
The Sunward SA 60L Aurora aircraft reportedly struck the CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, at around 6am local time on Wednesday, as reported by South China Morning Post.
Video footage from nearby buildings showed firefighters spraying water towards smoke rising from the 528-metre, 109-storey tower following the impact.
People inside the building were seen evacuating in haste before gathering outside the entrance area as emergency response teams arrived.
The collision caused debris, including part of the aircraft’s tail, to fall from the building. Falling fragments also reportedly damaged the windscreen of a taxi on the ground.
Police were seen preventing individuals from recording the scene and instructed some to delete footage immediately.
It is still unclear whether there were any fatalities or injuries in the incident.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
