On the afternoon of the 28th, damage remains on the exterior of the CITIC Tower (Zhongxin Building) in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD) following a light aircraft collision. [Yonhap News] 

Following an incident in which a light aircraft collided with a skyscraper in downtown Beijing, all non-essential aviation activities, excluding emergency response, have been suspended nationwide, reported Hong Kong's Ming Pao on the 29th.

According to the report, Ming Pao contacted flight training clubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen under the guise of inquiring about flight training, and was informed that "general aviation" flights have been grounded across the country.

General aviation refers to aviation activities other than military, police/customs, and scheduled commercial passenger flights, including light aircraft operation, flight training, aerial photography, agricultural spraying, and sightseeing flights.

A captain at a flight training club in Beijing stated, "General aviation flights are currently prohibited nationwide, and it is unknown when they will resume," adding, "Flights are typically restricted even during significant events or meetings."

When asked if this was a nationwide measure, he replied, "It is because someone flew an aircraft into a no-fly zone a few days ago."

A source at a flight club in Shanghai estimated that the suspension would last for at least ten days, and mentioned that flight clubs in other regions are also awaiting further instructions from authorities.

The Financial Times (FT) also cited local small aircraft operators, reporting that authorities have restricted the operation of fixed-wing light aircraft nationwide following the accident.

A skydiving club in Hainan Province in southern China stated, "All activities requiring flight have been banned," while an aviation club in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, reported that the nationwide suspension would continue until further notice from authorities.

According to Flightradar24, a real-time flight tracking service, aviation activity other than cargo and commercial flights saw a sharp decline following the collision.

In China, general aviation is operated under strict licensing procedures.

Beijing, in particular, has some of the most stringent airspace controls in China.

Earlier, at approximately 5:55 p.m. on the 26th, a single-engine two-seater light aircraft collided with the exterior wall of the CITIC Tower (Zhongxin Building), a skyscraper near the Central Business District (CBD) in Beijing's Chaoyang District.

The accident resulted in the death of the pilot and injured 13 others.

Aviation experts analyzed that the impact was limited, as the aircraft weighed only about 340 kg and was estimated to be traveling at approximately 200 km/h at the time of the collision.

The day after the accident, authorities provided a brief overview of the incident and stated they were investigating the exact circumstances, without disclosing the cause of the accident or the pilot's identity.

The CITIC Tower, where the accident occurred, is Beijing's tallest building at 528 meters and is located about 7 km in a straight line from Zhongnanhai, the site of President Xi Jinping's office and residence.

The incident has sparked questions regarding how a light aircraft was able to fly into the core area of downtown Beijing, leading to criticisms that there are gaps in China's aviation security system.

Following the accident, police have maintained control of the site, and public access has been strictly restricted.

As most videos related to the accident on Chinese social media were deleted, various speculations have emerged, with some questioning whether there was a political motive behind the incident.

Taiwan's Central News Agency reported that three major questions remain following the collision: the pilot's identity, whether the collision was intentional or accidental, and how the pilot managed to fly into a no-fly zone.

Regarding the incident at the tallest building in downtown Beijing—an area with the strictest airspace control in China—the agency remarked, "While it may not be comparable to the U.S. 9/11 attacks [involving passenger planes hijacked by terrorists], it is no less mysterious."