A small aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, CITIC Tower, on Friday. The small plane was about the size of a car, news agency Reuters reported quoting two witnesses. Following the crash, police rushed to the area, closed nearby roads, and restricted filming near the site.

CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, stands 108 storeys high in Beijing’s central business district. It serves as the headquarters of the state-owned CITIC Group and is among the most prominent landmarks in the Chinese capital.

Police seal off several roads

Witnesses told Reuters that the aircraft struck a high floor of the building in the evening, causing loud impact noise that drew attention from nearby areas. A courier told Reuters that he heard the crash and rushed to the site soon after. “It was so loud – louder than fireworks,” the courier told Reuters.

Another courier told Reuters he reached the scene after seeing unverified images circulating on social media that showed wreckage near the skyscraper.

Police sealed off several roads around CITIC Tower. Dozens of police vehicles and fire trucks lined nearby streets.

Authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Two glass panels on a high floor of the skyscraper showed visible damage in the viral video.

According to flight tracking platform Flightradar24 report, the aircraft had followed an unusual and significantly deviated flight path before the incident.

CNN reported that images of the aircraft’s registration number shared online suggest it was a Chinese-made Sunward SA60L Aurora light sport aircraft. The aircraft was reportedly operated by a local general aviation company.

However, officials have not yet confirmed the extent of the incident or casualties.

The 108-storey CITIC Tower, designed to resemble a traditional Chinese wine vessel, is one of Beijing’s most famous skyscrapers, reported AP. In June, city authorities tightened airspace rules, effectively banning the sale and use of consumer drones in the capital.

Disclaimer: Financial Express Digital could not independently confirm the authenticity of the viral videos.