China grounds light aircraft after Beijing skyscraper crash

WEB DESK: China has restricted private aviation operators from flying light fixed-wing aircraft following an incident where a small plane crashed into one of the tallest buildings in Beijing last week, according to a report by the UK-based Financial Times on Monday.

The pilot was killed and 13 other people were injured on Friday after a small propeller plane hit the 528-metre CITIC Tower in Beijing, according to Anadolu Agency. Also known as China Zun, the building is the tallest in the Chinese capital.

Airspace restrictions enforced

Citing three operators of small propeller-driven aircraft and a glider company, the report stated that private aviation fleets “had been grounded after” the incident. Furthermore, recreational skydiving and paragliding services across the country have been suspended due to a “nationwide airspace control order.”

Data from the live flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed that non-commercial and non-cargo aircraft activity across China fell sharply on Saturday following the disaster. No official timeline has been announced for when these control measures will be lifted.

Investigation underway

The aircraft involved in the crash was identified as a Sunward SA60L Aurora, a domestically produced two-seat light-sport plane. Videos circulating on social media captured debris raining down from the upper floors of the skyscraper immediately after the impact, with the aircraft’s tail section later photographed on the ground below.

Local district authorities in Beijing have confirmed that a comprehensive probe is currently underway to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.

The incident follows a series of tightening aviation regulations in the capital. Earlier this year, Beijing authorities enforced strict new rules barring unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from operating across most of the city.

The capital’s last major aviation accident occurred in 2022, when a tourist helicopter crashed during a flight between the Changping and Fangshan districts, killing both pilots on board.