Chinese Student Charged with Illegally Photographing Military Aircraft at Nebraska Air Base

A 21-year-old college student from China has been charged with unlawfully photographing U.S. military aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska in late March, federal authorities said.

The FBI reported that Tianrui Liang was arrested on April 7 at an airport in New York as he attempted to board a flight to Glasgow, Scotland, where he attends college. According to court filings, Liang admitted to leaving his vehicle on a public road to take photos of two military planes—a RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and an E-4B “Nightwatch,” which can function as an airborne command post for top government officials in national emergencies.

Investigators stated in the affidavit that while images of these military planes exist on the internet, federal law prohibits photographing or sketching defense installations without authorization. During questioning, Liang acknowledged he was aware it was illegal to photograph the planes on the ground, but claimed the images were intended for his personal collection.

Liang’s journey to the Nebraska air base was part of a broader road trip after entering the U.S. via Washington state from Vancouver, British Columbia, the FBI said. He reportedly drove alone to visit both Offutt and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, and expressed interest in also visiting Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, according to court documents.

Liang has yet to appear in federal court in Omaha regarding the charges, and his attorney has declined to comment on the case. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

In recent years, U.S. authorities have filed charges in multiple cases involving Chinese nationals accused of attempting to photograph or access sensitive military sites.