A Chinese national was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after federal authorities said he photographed sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Tianrui Liang, 21, allegedly also planned to target another installation as he prepared to leave the country.
Liang violated a federal law that restricts photographing defense installations without authorization, court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York stated.
Liang was taken into custody April 7 while trying to board an international flight. This came just days after a warrant was issued in Nebraska, Fox News reported.
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The case centers on activity near Offutt Air Force Base, which is home to U.S. Strategic Command. This is one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive installations.
The FBI affidavit said that investigators were alerted after a witness reported seeing “a male holding a camera with a telescopic lens” near the base, which is where the aircraft are stationed on the flight line. Offutt hosts high-value reconnaissance and command aircraft, which includes the RC-135 surveillance plane and the E-4B “Nightwatch.” These are often called the military’s “doomsday plane.”
Lian later admitted that he photographed several aircraft at the base, “including the RC-135 and the E-4B,” according to federal agents. He said he identified photography locations using a “planespotter” website. He asserted that the photos were for his “personal collection,” according to the affidavit.
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“He knew it was illegal to take pictures of the planes on the ground,” the affidavit stated.
According to investigators, a review of Liang’s camera revealed “numerous photographs of planes located on the OAFB flightline,” including images of military aircraft parked on the base.
Who is Tianrui Liang?
Liang was a student at Glasgow University in Scotland, investigators said. He recently traveled through Canada before entering the US. He allegedly planned to travel to Oklahoma to photograph additional aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base, including the E-4B.
Liang has been accused of specifically looking for locations where he could photograph aircraft from outside military installations.
One cannot legally photograph military installation with approval from a base commander. According to prosecutors, there is “probable cause to believe” Liang photographed aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base without such an approval.
