Video footage taken by a witness from a nearby building showed fire trucks blasting water at small flames on the ground, as well as what appeared to be part of the plane beside the building.
Police and ambulances swarmed the area, with officers blocking people from taking photos.
A student at the scene told AFP he rushed to the building as soon as information about the crash was shared in a social media group for aviation enthusiasts.
Images and posts online were being rapidly deleted, he said.
The CITIC Tower, which has 108 floors above ground and seven below, is able to accommodate 12,000 office workers.
China imposes strict restrictions on its airspace, particularly around Beijing’s urban area, citing public security.
In April, China announced it was banning the sale of drones in Beijing and would require users to apply for permission for all flights in the capital.
While the cause of Friday’s crash remains unclear, the apparent censorship of images and information could suggest an attempt to downplay any possible security lapse.
The statement issued on Saturday received virtually no coverage on Chinese media outlets.