A 21-year-old Chinese national has been accused of photographing sensitive military aircraft in Nebraska without authorization.
The accused, Tianrui Liang, allegedly took the photos near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and was also planning to target an installation in Oklahoma, Fox News reported Monday, citing court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York.
The young Chinese man was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York on April 7 as he was about to board an international flight.
“The law prohibits photographing military installations without approval from a base commander. Prosecutors say there is ‘probable cause to believe’ Liang photographed aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base without that approval,” the Fox article reads, noting the base is “home to U.S. Strategic Air Command — one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive installations.”