A 21-year-old Chinese national is in federal custody after authorities say he photographed sensitive U.S. military aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, then attempted to leave the country.
Tianrui Liang was arrested April 7 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. According to court filings in the Eastern District of New York, Liang is charged with violating federal law that restricts unauthorized photography of defense installations. Investigators say a warrant had been issued in Nebraska days earlier, and agents moved in as he prepared to board an international flight.
Federal authorities allege the activity was not incidental. A witness reported seeing a man with a camera equipped with a telescopic lens positioned near the base, focusing on aircraft along the flight line. Offutt is not a routine installation.
It houses high-value reconnaissance and command platforms, including the RC-135 surveillance aircraft and the E-4B “Nightwatch,” a mobile command post designed for use during national emergencies.
🚨#BREAKING: A 21-year-old Chinese national, Tianrui Liang, has been arrested and is facing charges after photographing a U.S. “doomsday plane” and other military aircraft without authorization at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He was taken into custody at JFK Airport…
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 21, 2026
According to an FBI affidavit, Liang admitted to photographing multiple aircraft, specifically identifying the RC-135 and E-4B. Those details are central to the case. Prosecutors argue the selection of targets and the method of observation indicate deliberate conduct rather than casual interest.
Liang’s travel pattern adds further scrutiny. He was not returning to China at the time of his arrest. Records indicate he had a one-way ticket to Glasgow, Scotland, where he is believed to be a student studying aeronautical engineering.
Authorities have not alleged formal ties to any government, but the sequence of events—traveling from abroad, arriving in Nebraska, photographing restricted assets, and departing shortly after—forms the basis of the investigation.
Liang is expected to appear in court later this month. Federal prosecutors have not indicated whether additional charges or co-conspirators are under consideration. The investigation remains active.