▲ Light aircraft collision at a skyscraper in Beijing, China
China has established a massive flight-restricted zone centered around its capital, Beijing, covering an area 2.8 times the size of South Korea's national territory.
The move comes after air defense and security measures for the capital region were significantly tightened following an incident in June where a light aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest building, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people.
According to Reuters, Beijing's air traffic control authorities announced that a special restricted zone with a diameter of 600 kilometers centered on Beijing will be implemented starting on the 20th.
The restricted zone encompasses the entirety of Beijing and Tianjin, most of Hebei Province, and parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi, Shandong, and Liaoning provinces.
The total area exceeds 280,000 square kilometers, which is approximately 2.8 times the size of South Korea's territory (100,000 square kilometers). It is estimated that about 100 million people reside within the zone, which also contains dozens of airports and small airfields.
In principle, all flight activities from the ground up to the airspace are prohibited within the restricted zone.
However, regular commercial flights, business flights with prior approval, and emergency flights for military, customs, police, firefighting, and rescue purposes are exempted from the ban.
Even permitted aircraft must strictly follow their pre-approved flight plans and must report to authorities and obtain separate approval if there is any possibility of deviating from their routes.
This measure follows a light aircraft crash in June into the CITIC Tower, Beijing's tallest building.
At the time, the light aircraft deviated from its approved route and collided with the CITIC Tower, resulting in the death of the pilot and 13 injuries.
China stated that the pilot's diary contained notes hinting at extreme choices, and authorities have since stepped up security in the capital region's airspace.
China is also significantly strengthening regulations on drones within Beijing.
Following a full ban on the sale, transport, and flight of personal drones implemented in May, the Beijing municipal government plans to prohibit the possession and storage of drones starting November 15.
Collection points have been set up in various districts for residents who already own drones, instructing them to take procedures to either remove them outside of Beijing or turn them in before the enforcement takes effect.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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