Chinese National Arrested for Photographing Military Aircraft
A 21-year-old Chinese national was detained at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after allegedly taking photographs of a sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. According to federal authorities, Tianrui Liang intended to target another facility just before leaving the country.
Liang faces charges for breaching federal regulations that prohibit photographing defense facilities without authorization, as reported in court documents from the Eastern District of New York.
He was apprehended on April 7 while preparing to board an international flight, following a warrant issued a few days earlier in Nebraska.
The investigation centers on activities at Offutt Air Force Base, which houses the U.S. Strategic Command and is considered one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive installations.
As detailed in an FBI affidavit, a witness alerted authorities after spotting a man with a camera equipped with a telephoto lens near the base, where the aircraft were stationed.
Offutt is known for housing important reconnaissance and command aircraft, including the RC-135 surveillance plane and the E-4B, often referred to as the military’s “doomsday plane.”
Federal officials stated that Liang acknowledged photographing multiple aircraft at the base, specifically mentioning the RC-135 and E-4B.
Liang reportedly told investigators that he used the PlaneSpotter website to determine the optimal location for his photography, claiming the images were for his “personal collection.”
Authorities allege he deliberately photographed restricted military assets without consent, noting, “He knew it was illegal to take pictures of airplanes on the ground,” according to the affidavit.
Following a search of his camera, investigators discovered numerous images of aircraft located on the Offutt Air Force Base flight line.
Liang, a student at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, had recently entered the U.S. after traveling through Canada and was found near Offutt Air Force Base. Reports indicate he intended to travel to Oklahoma to capture additional photographs of aircraft, including an E-4B at Tinker Air Force Base.
Authorities assert that Liang was specifically seeking locations from which to photograph military aircraft without entering the facilities themselves.
Federal law prohibits capturing images of military installations without the base commander’s approval. Prosecutors contend they have “sufficient reason to believe” that Liang photographed aircraft at Offutt without permission. It’s important to note that the affidavit does not indicate he was operating on behalf of a foreign government.
