A commercial airliner has crashed into a skyscraper in central Beijing, triggering a state-imposed news blackout that has enraged British diplomats. The incident, which occurred at 14:23 local time, saw a Boeing 737 slam into the 60th floor of the Zhongguancun Financial Tower, killing an estimated 200 people. Chinese authorities immediately shut down all local news coverage, blocked social media platforms, and seized mobile phones from witnesses.
Whitehall sources say the British ambassador has lodged a formal protest, demanding full transparency. The Foreign Office is coordinating with families of British nationals feared missing. One lobby insider described the blackout as 'Orwellian' and predicted a diplomatic row.
The PM is convening COBRA.
