Beijing implements total drone ban following Citic Tower crash

Beijing authorities have announced a comprehensive ban on drones within the city's administrative area, effective November 15. This move follows a June aviation accident in which a light aircraft struck the Citic Tower, a prominent local landmark.

The new regulations upgrade previous registration requirements to a total ban on the possession, storage, and transportation of drones and their core components. Residents must remove all existing devices from Beijing by November 14 to avoid seizure and fines. To facilitate compliance, the municipal government has introduced a tiered subsidy program for buybacks and scrap recycling. For instance, buybacks completed between September 12 and October 31 receive a 30% subsidy (capped at 3,000 RMB), while the subsidy drops to 15% (capped at 1,500 RMB) from November 1 to November 14.

While the ban applies to the general public, exceptions are permitted for specialized sectors such as counter-terrorism, emergency rescue, scientific research, and industrial or agricultural use, provided they pass safety assessments. A no-fly zone is also scheduled to be established starting September 20 to restrict non-emergency flight activities. The crackdown has already triggered a wave of sales at retailers like DJI as owners attempt to offload equipment before values drop further.