In a statement on Saturday, the Chaoyang district government said that only the pilot was in the two-seater plane when it hit Citic Tower.

In addition, 13 people were injured in the incident.

The statement, issued after hours of silence, said the crash took place at 5.55pm on Friday and that the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation. It did not name the building and only referred it as a skyscraper near the east third ring road.

The incident triggered the building’s evacuation and scattered debris across the Chinese capital’s central business district.

Small aircraft hits Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, prompting evacuations

More to follow …