Here’s Everything We Know About the Beijing Crash China Doesn’t Want You to Know About

On June 26, a two-seater Sunward Aurora SA60L light aircraft piloted by a 66-year-old man identified only as Liu crashed into Citic Tower in Beijing, China. The pilot was killed, and 13 others were injured.

The crash occurred at 5:55 p.m. on the east side of Citic Tower, Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, also known as China Zun. The incident breached a 39-square-mile no-fly zone around Zhongnanhai, the Chinese Communist Party’s central compound, raising serious questions about air defense failures.

Liu took off from Beijing Shifosi Airport about 30 minutes before the crash as part of a formation flight but split off unexpectedly, lost contact with air traffic control, and ignored evasive maneuvers by an incoming Airbus A330. Chinese state media and CCTV made no mention of the crash, and the government swiftly scrubbed online references, removed debris, and boarded up broken windows.

The official explanation cited “personal reasons,” but Liu’s diary reportedly contained suicidal references, and he had a history of insomnia and anxiety. His pilot’s license was obtained in 2021.

The crash’s limited damage—primarily broken windows and scattered debris—suggests the aircraft may have been moving slowly or lacked the impact force of larger planes. Investigations are ongoing, with Beijing ordering a temporary suspension of light aircraft flights in the area.

Analysts expect two probes: one into the crash and another into military air defense failures, potentially leading to disciplinary actions. Long-term transparency remains uncertain, as China has yet to release a final report on the 2022 China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crash that killed 132 people.