After a small aircraft crashed into a high-rise building in Beijing last Friday (June 26), it has been reported that, except for emergency rescue operations, all general aviation operations nationwide have been grounded.
The Chaoyang District Government in Beijing announced on its official WeChat public account last Saturday (June 27) that a single-engine, two-seat light sport aircraft collided with a high-rise building near the East Third Ring Road in Chaoyang District at 5:55 pm on Friday. The pilot onboard was killed, and 13 people at the scene were injured. The injured are receiving emergency treatment. Authorities are further investigating the circumstances of the accident.
The notice did not explain the reason for the aircraft crashing into the building, nor did it confirm the pilot’s identity.
This type of incident is extremely rare in Beijing due to the city’s very strict airspace control, and the high-rise involved is located in Beijing’s Central Business District.
On Sunday (June 28), Ming Pao posed as a student to inquire with several flight training clubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The report quoted a captain from an unnamed Beijing flight training club as saying that currently, there is a nationwide no-fly order for general aviation, with no clear information about when flights may resume. “We have to wait and see. Usually, flights are suspended during temporary events or important conferences.”
When Ming Pao further asked if the suspension was nationwide, the captain confirmed this and added, “Because a few days ago, someone flew a plane into the restricted zone.”
A staff member from an unnamed Shanghai flight club estimated that the grounding would last at least 10 days. Clubs in other regions said they are waiting for further notice.
According to Reuters, the CITIC Tower (also known as ‘China Zun’) that was hit did not suffer serious damage after the incident. Damage appeared to be limited to two smashed glass curtain wall panels, which had already been temporarily covered by last Saturday.
The notice did not explain the reason for the aircraft crashing into the building, nor did it confirm the pilot’s identity.
This type of incident is extremely rare in Beijing due to the city’s very strict airspace control, and the high-rise involved is located in Beijing’s Central Business District.
On Sunday (June 28), Ming Pao posed as a student to inquire with several flight training clubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The report quoted a captain from an unnamed Beijing flight training club as saying that currently, there is a nationwide no-fly order for general aviation, with no clear information about when flights may resume. “We have to wait and see. Usually, flights are suspended during temporary events or important conferences.”
When Ming Pao further asked if the suspension was nationwide, the captain confirmed this and added, “Because a few days ago, someone flew a plane into the restricted zone.”
A staff member from an unnamed Shanghai flight club estimated that the grounding would last at least 10 days. Clubs in other regions said they are waiting for further notice.
According to Reuters, the CITIC Tower (also known as ‘China Zun’) that was hit did not suffer serious damage after the incident. Damage appeared to be limited to two smashed glass curtain wall panels, which had already been temporarily covered by last Saturday.