A 21-year-old Chinese national was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while attempting to leave the United States, after federal authorities discovered that he had photographed military aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska without authorization, according to court documents.
Tianrui Liang was taken into custody on a federal arrest warrant issued in the District of Nebraska. He is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 795, which makes it a crime to photograph or sketch designated military installations or equipment without authorization. The statute carries penalties of up to one year in prison, a fine, or both.
An FBI affidavit states there is "probable cause to believe" Liang photographed the flightline at Offutt Air Force Base on March 31, 2026. The base, located near Omaha, is home to U.S. Strategic Command and high-value aircraft, including the RC-135 reconnaissance plane and the E-4B airborne command aircraft.
Witnesses reported seeing "a male holding a camera with a telescopic lens" along Harlan Lewis Road, a public road bordering the base’s eastern perimeter. The area is marked with fencing and signage restricting access.
Security forces and Air Force Office of Special Investigations personnel responded and identified Liang, who was later interviewed by investigators, according to the affidavit.
According to the FBI, Liang admitted photographing multiple aircraft, "including the RC-135 and the E-4B," and acknowledged he knew it was illegal to photograph planes on the ground.
Investigators said a search of his Canon camera later revealed “numerous photographs of planes located on the OAFB flightline.”
Liang told investigators that he used a website called “planespotter” to identify locations for aircraft photography and that he understood the restrictions on military installations.
Liang also told investigators that he traveled to the United States from Canada days earlier and was in the country on a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa. He is a student at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, according to court filings.
The affidavit details a broader travel plan, alleging Liang intended to continue photographing military aircraft at additional installations, including Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where the E-4B is sometimes stationed.
At the time of his arrest, Liang had booked a one-way international itinerary departing New York for Frankfurt, Germany, with a connection to Glasgow, Scotland, officials said.
Liang provided law enforcement with his Chinese passport, and agents confirmed his identity matched the Nebraska arrest warrant. A federal agent familiar with prior interviews had also identified him.