China Suspends Private Flights Following Beijing Tower Crash

China has suspended flights by private light fixed-wing aircraft nationwide after a two-seat plane crashed into the 528-metre CITIC Tower in Beijing's central business district during Friday evening's rush hour. The pilot was killed and 13 people on the ground were injured.

According to the Financial Times, authorities issued a confidential order tightening airspace controls and banning recreational flights across the country. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

China's airspace is among the most tightly controlled in the world and remains under military oversight. A permanent no-fly zone covers central Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, while civilian aircraft are generally routed around the city centre. Low-altitude flights are restricted to the outskirts and drones are subject to strict controls.

The crash came just days before the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, adding to the political sensitivity surrounding the incident. The new restrictions immediately affected the market, with shares in Chinese companies linked to the low-altitude aviation sector falling sharply on Monday.

(Reuters, Max)