A Chinese citizen was arrested at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after federal authorities said he photographed sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and planned to target another facility as he prepared to leave the country.
Tianrui Liang, 21, is accused of violating a federal law that prohibits unauthorized filming of defense installations, according to court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York.
Authorities said Liang was detained on April 7 while trying to board an international flight, just days after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Nebraska.
The case centers on activity near Offutt Air Force Base, home to U.S. Strategic Command and one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive installations.
Two Chinese nationals arrested for spying on U.S. Navy personnel and bases
Investigators were alerted after a witness reported seeing “a man holding a camera with a telescoping lens” near the base while the plane was parked on the flight path, according to an FBI affidavit.
Read it on the Fox News app
Offutt owns high-value reconnaissance and command aircraft, including RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and E-4B Nightwatches, often referred to as the military’s “doomsday aircraft.”
Federal agents said Liang later admitted to photographing several aircraft at the base, “including RC-135s and E-4Bs.”
Experts: Foreigners flying drones over U.S. military sites raise “espionage” concerns
On May 15, 2024, a U.S. Air Force E-4B belonging to the 595th Command and Control Group at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska performed a training mission over the Midwest. The E-4B is the military version of the Boeing 747-200, consisting of four engines and a swept-wing design, capable of long-range, high-altitude operations and aerial refueling.
(Fox News)
Liang told investigators he used the Plane Spotter website to identify photography locations and said the images were from his “personal collection,” the affidavit said.
Authorities said he knowingly photographed restricted military assets without permission.
“He knew it was illegal to take photos of aircraft from the ground,” the affidavit states.
Chinese citizen jailed for using ‘kill switch’ to breach employer’s system
U.S. military personnel guide an E-4B “Nightwatch” aircraft known as the “Doomsday Plane” on the tarmac. Federal authorities said a similar aircraft was photographed near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska as part of an investigation into the arrest of a Chinese national in New York.
Investigators said a subsequent examination of his camera revealed “numerous photos of aircraft located in the OAFB flight path,” including images of military aircraft parked at the base.
Investigators said Liang was a student at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and had recently passed through Canada before entering the United States.
Authorities said Liang entered the United States via Canada and was later found near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Investigators said he planned to travel to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma to photograph more aircraft, including an E-4B.
Investigators said Liang specifically sought out locations where the aircraft could be viewed and photographed from outside military installations.
Click here to download the Fox News app
The law prohibits photographing military installations without the approval of the base commander. Prosecutors said there was “probable reason to believe” Liang filmed the aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base without permission.
The affidavit does not accuse Liang of acting on behalf of any foreign government.
Original source of the article: Chinese citizen arrested at JFK airport for allegedly filming US military aircraft at Nebraska base
