According to media reports, a 21-year-old Chinese national, Tianrui Liang, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on April 7 at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) while preparing to leave the country. He is suspected of illegally photographing highly sensitive U.S. military facilities and strategic aircraft.
Charging documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York state that Liang is accused of violating Title 18, Section 795 of the United States Code, which restricts unauthorized photography or recording of defense facilities designated by the President or the Department of Defense, according to Fox News.
The investigation centers on Liang’s activities near Offutt Air Force Base, home to U.S. Strategic Command and widely regarded as one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive operational hubs.
On March 31, 2026, a witness reported seeing a man on a public road outside the base using a camera equipped with a telephoto lens to photograph aircraft along the runway. Base security personnel and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) launched an inquiry and identified the individual as Liang.
Suspicious travel pattern
During questioning, Liang admitted to using “plane-spotting” websites to identify locations for photographing aircraft. Authorities say he captured images of several sensitive platforms, including the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and the E-4B “National Airborne Operations Center,” often referred to as the “doomsday plane.” The E-4B plays a critical role in the United States’ nuclear command and control system, and details about its capabilities are closely guarded.
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According to an FBI affidavit, Liang is a student at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom. He entered the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa and followed a travel route that investigators describe as deliberate. On March 26, Liang flew from the UK to Vancouver, Canada, where he met a friend studying at Columbia University. The two drove into the U.S. from Seattle on March 28 before traveling to Billings, Montana.
After his companion returned to New York, Liang continued alone, visiting Ellsworth Air Force Base, where he photographed B-1B “Lancer” bombers, before heading to Nebraska. Investigators say he also planned to visit Tinker Air Force Base to photograph additional E-4B aircraft and other military planes. Authorities believe this multi-state travel pattern indicates clear planning and intent to document sensitive sites.
During a search of Liang’s camera, the FBI recovered numerous images taken near restricted areas of Offutt Air Force Base. Authorities also found a DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone in his possession, though Liang claimed it was not his and had not been used at the base.
Liang told investigators he was aware that photographing military aircraft from the ground could be illegal but said the images were for “personal collection.” Prosecutors countered that the area surrounding Offutt Air Force Base is clearly marked with fencing and warning signs designating it as a restricted defense zone where photography is prohibited.
Bail revoked
Liang was taken into custody on April 7 before boarding an international flight. Though a magistrate judge initially granted his release on $20,000 bail on April 8, prosecutors filed an emergency motion that was approved on April 10.
The court determined that Liang posed a “significant flight risk” as a foreign national facing serious national defense-related charges, and his bail was revoked pending further proceedings.
While the current indictment does not allege espionage on behalf of a foreign government, court documents indicate that parts of the case remain under seal due to an ongoing investigation involving a “potential co-conspirator.”
If convicted, Liang faces fines and a maximum sentence of up to one year in federal prison.
