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Fifth Column
Chinese national arrested at JFK after allegedly photographing US military aircraft at Nebraska base
2026-04-21
[FoxNews] Authorities say Tianrui Liang, 21, also planned to travel to Oklahoma to photograph aircraft at another installation

A Chinese national was arrested at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after federal authorities say he photographed sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and planned to target another installation as he prepared to leave the country.
Mr. Wife was warned off, once upon a time, for taking a photo of the Egyptian sentry standing guard at the end of the street in front of his hotel in Cairo — very picturesque he was, his rifle stock and his sandals both held together with duck tape in the quintessential Egyptian way. The policeman also confiscated his film to nail home the lesson that one simply can’t going around photographing military secrets, even if they’re right there in the open.
Tianrui Liang, 21, is accused of violating a federal law that restricts photographing defense installations without authorization, according to court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York.

Authorities say Liang was taken into custody April 7 while attempting to board an international flight, just days after a warrant was issued in Nebraska.

The case centers on activity near Offutt Air Force Base, home to U.S. Strategic Command — one of the Pentagon’s most sensitive installations.

According to an FBI affidavit, investigators were alerted after a witness reported seeing "a male holding a camera with a telescopic lens" near the base, where aircraft are stationed on the flight line.

Offutt hosts high-value reconnaissance and command aircraft, including the RC-135 surveillance plane and the E-4B "Nightwatch," often referred to as the military’s "doomsday plane."

Federal agents say Liang later admitted to photographing several aircraft at the base, "including the RC-135 and the E-4B."
Posted by:Skidmark

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