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FACTBOX: Small aircraft crashes in Beijing over the past 20 years

An aircraft about the size of a car flew into the tallest building in Beijing on Friday, said witnesses who saw the rare crash in China's capital, where airspace is heavily controlled.

Beijing Newsroom

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27 June 2026 at 19:21:51

FACTBOX: Small aircraft crashes in Beijing over the past 20 years

People point their mobile phones at CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, where damage is visible on a high floor of the exterior, in Beijing, China June 26, 2026.

Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

BEIJING - An aircraft about the size of a car flew into the tallest building in Beijing on Friday, said witnesses who saw the rare crash in China's capital, where airspace is heavily controlled.


Below is a list of some crashes involving small aircraft or helicopters in Beijing over the past 20 years, based on aviation authority and Chinese state media reports.



July 6, 2022 - a tourist helicopter crashed during a flight between Beijing's Changping and Fangshan districts, killing two pilots on board.


July 30, 2018 - a civil helicopter crashed into a parking lot in a village in Beijing's Chaoyang district due to pilot error, injuring four people on board.


June 6, 2015 - Two people were killed after a small training helicopter crashed into Miyun Reservoir.


April 10, 2014 - A small training aircraft crashed into a river near Miyun Reservoir in Beijing, killing one pilot and injuring the other.


August 17, 2011 - A police helicopter crashed into Miyun Reservoir while returning from a search-and-rescue drill, killing four of the five crew members.


July 12, 2008 - A helicopter crashed and caught fire in the remote Pinggu district after hitting a high-voltage power line while pesticide spraying, killing the pilot.


=Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Alexander Smith/Reuters

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