A Chinese citizen was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after federal agents accused him of taking pictures of a sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He reportedly intended to target another military facility as it was preparing to depart the country.
Tianrui Liang, 21, faces allegations of breaching a federal statute that forbids photographing defense installations without prior consent, as detailed in court filings in New York’s Eastern District.
Liang was apprehended just before he was set to board an international flight on April 7, several days following the issuance of a warrant in Nebraska.
This investigation centers around activities near Offutt Air Force Base, which hosts the U.S. Strategic Command and other critical Pentagon facilities.
According to an FBI statement, authorities were notified after someone spotted “a man with a camera with a telephoto lens” in the vicinity of the base where military aircraft were positioned.
Offutt bases valuable reconnaissance and command planes, like the RC-135 surveillance aircraft and the E-4B “Nightwatch,” often referred to as the military’s “doomsday plane.”
Federal representatives reported that Liang confessed to capturing images of various aircraft at the base, including both the RC-135 and the E-4B.
Liang claimed he found the location through the PlaneSpotter website, stating the photos were meant for his “personal collection,” as noted in the affidavit.
Allegations are that he purposely photographed restricted military areas without authorization.
“He understood that taking pictures of planes on the ground was against the law,” the affidavit indicates.
Further analysis of his camera revealed numerous images of aircraft stationed at the Offutt flight line, including military jets.
Liang is a student at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and had recently entered the U.S. from Canada.
He was located near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska after crossing into the U.S. via Canada.
Authorities expressed concerns that Liang had plans to head to Oklahoma to photograph more aircraft, including an E-4B, at Tinker Air Force Base.
It seems he was particularly interested in finding locations to photograph military aircraft from outside of military properties.
The law explicitly prohibits photographing military installations without authorization from the relevant base commander. Prosecutors assert they have “reasonable grounds to believe” that Liang captured images of aircraft at Offutt without the necessary approval.
Interestingly, the affidavit does not suggest that Liang was acting on behalf of any foreign government.
