Foreign Student Faces Prison After Photographing ‘Sensitive U.S. Military Aircraft’

A foreign university student with what his lawyer called an “obsessive” plane-spotting hobby is now facing federal punishment after authorities say he photographed some of America’s most sensitive military aircraft.

Tianrui Liang, an aeronautical engineering student at Glasgow University, was arrested by the FBI at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he tried to board a flight back to Scotland.

Now, the Chinese passport holder is facing up to one year behind bars and a possible $100,000 fine after pleading guilty to violating a federal law that bans unauthorized photography of defense installations.

The case is raising serious questions about national security, foreign nationals near U.S. military sites, and how easily sensitive American assets can be tracked in the open.

According to federal agents, Liang entered North America through Vancouver, Canada, where he met up with a friend from Columbia University. The pair then drove across the border into the United States through Seattle, Washington, before traveling through Montana.

The friend eventually returned to New York, but Liang allegedly continued his cross-country journey alone.

Investigators say his first major stop was Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, where he hoped to photograph the B-1B strategic bomber. When he discovered the aircraft were not there, he allegedly turned to a public plane-spotting website to track their location.

That led him to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, one of the most sensitive military sites in the country.

While there, Liang took photos of a Boeing E-4B, often referred to as a “doomsday plane,” and a Boeing RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, according to federal authorities.

The E-4B is no ordinary aircraft. It is designed to serve as an airborne command center during national emergencies, including the nightmare scenario of nuclear war. The RC-135 is also a key U.S. intelligence-gathering aircraft used for reconnaissance missions.

Once local authorities realized Liang was traveling on a Chinese passport, they alerted the FBI.

Liang later pleaded guilty to violating U.S. Code Section 795, which prohibits photographing certain defense installations. The charge is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, but it still carries serious consequences.

Judge Michael Nelson ordered Liang to remain in custody, citing a lack of information about his background, family ties, foreign connections, and travel plans.

U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods issued a blunt warning after the case, making it clear that federal authorities are not taking chances when it comes to America’s military secrets.

“Any individual who unlawfully attempts to acquire sensitive information about military aircraft will be held maximally accountable under federal law,” Woods said, according to The Tab.

Liang’s defense attorney, Jeffrey Thomas, argued that the student should receive a six-month sentence so he can eventually return to his studies in Glasgow.

Thomas said Liang has no criminal record and claimed the incident should be viewed in the context of his intense airplane-spotting hobby, which he has reportedly pursued since 2020.

“Though it is not to be excused… it is appropriately viewed in that context,” Thomas said.

Still, the case comes at a time when many Americans are increasingly worried about foreign surveillance, weak border controls, and the growing threat posed by China’s intelligence-gathering operations.

What may look like an unusual hobby to some looks very different when it involves a foreign national, sensitive U.S. military aircraft, and a trail of travel across multiple states.

Liang is scheduled to be sentenced in June. He faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.