A small aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest building on Friday evening, killing the pilot and injuring 13 other people. Chinese authorities confirmed the incident on Saturday and said they began an investigation to find out what led to the crash.

Beijing's Chaoyang district authorities said the accident took place at 5:55 pm on Friday. The district is one of the city's busiest business areas. According to the official statement, a two-seat light sport aircraft hit a high-rise building near East Third Ring Road. The crash killed the pilot, who was the only person on board, and left 13 others injured.

The authorities did not reveal the identity of the pilot or the name of the building in their statement. They also did not clarify whether the injured people were inside the building or suffered injuries from falling debris. The statement only said that the injured people were receiving treatment.

The global flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft crashed into the CITIC Tower, known as China Zun. The skyscraper stands more than 1,700 feet (528 metres) tall and has 108 floors. It sits just east of one of Beijing's major ring roads in an area filled with office towers. The building has a unique design inspired by an ancient Chinese wine vessel and is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.

Flightradar24 also shared the flight path of the aircraft on social media. The aircraft was a Sunward SA 60L Aurora. It took off from an airport located about 50 kilometres east of Beijing. It flew west before the flight ended near East Third Ring Road, where the crash took place.

On Saturday, journalists from The Associated Press visited the site and photographed the building. The pictures showed visible marks on the glass exterior of the CITIC Tower. A damaged section of the facade had already been covered.

Officials have not announced the cause of the crash. The incident has raised questions since Beijing has strict airspace controls. The city also recently introduced a ban on drones. Investigators are now examining the accident to determine what happened.

The authorities said, "An investigation is underway into the situation." They have not shared any additional details about the investigation or when they expect to release its findings.

Soon after the crash, social media posts about the incident disappeared from China's heavily controlled internet. Despite that, videos and images spread on overseas platforms such as X.com. Such incidents often receive limited public discussion inside China, as authorities treat them as sensitive matters.

Several images and videos circulating online appeared to show pieces of the aircraft near the base of the skyscraper. While the location in the visuals matched the reported crash site, independent verification of the material was not immediately possible. One image showed part of the aircraft registration number as "B-12." The full registration number of the aircraft is B-12PP.

Flightradar24 indicated that the airplane is managed by Shuangyue General Aviation. This appears to refer to Dongshi Shuangyue (Beijing) General Aviation. The company's website was unavailable on Saturday. Information listed on an online platform cites official records, saying the company offers private pilot training, aerial sightseeing tours, and other aviation services.

The aircraft involved in the accident was the SA 60L, which Starair Aircraft manufactures in Hunan province in central China. According to the company's website, the SA 60L holds more than 70 per cent of China's light sport aircraft market. The company has also exported the aircraft to Australia and the United States.

Starair Aircraft states that the SA 60L has a maximum cruise speed of 220 kilometres (137 miles) per hour. The aircraft also has a maximum take-off weight of 600 kilograms (1,322 pounds). It is a single-engine light sport aircraft designed for training and recreational flying.

Authorities continue to investigate the crash while the injured remain under medical care. Officials have not released further information about the victims or the circumstances that led to the aircraft striking one of Beijing's most famous skyscrapers.