Chinese University Student Arrested For Photographing Doomsday Plane

Plane spotting has always been one of those activities that can sometimes fall in a gray area depending on where you do it. Even though the term itself is pretty broad, in modern times, it is generally associated with the photography and videography of airplanes, whether it be at airports, in the air (or sea) or at air shows.

While most airports allow and even encourage it, there are certain instances where plane spotting could get you thrown behind bars.

According to the United States Office of Public Affairs, 21-year-old Tianrui Liang, a Chinese national at the University of Glasgow, was arrested in New York and charged with taking pictures of a number of military aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

The incident started in late March 2026 when Liang traveled to Vancouver, Canada where he met up a friend who was studying in New York. He crossed from Vancouver into Washington state on a valid B1/B2 visa where they both road-tripped to Montana. At that point, his friend flew back to New York. Liang wanted to do a bit of plane spotting and continued on his own, visiting Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

Liang then drove to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, photographing a Boeing RC-135 and Boeing E-4B (commonly known as the “Doomsday Plane”) on the flight line. Even though Liang took photos of the aircraft from a public roadway, someone still reported him to the authorities, and he was later confronted by the FBI.

According to the release, a complaint affidavit filed in the District of Nebraska alleges that Liang drove to New York after being confronted by the FBI in Nebraska. The FBI obtained an arrest warrant for Liang who was later arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Following his arrest on April 7, Liang appeared in a federal magistrate court for the Eastern District of New York on the Nebraska federal charge. The magistrate judge released Liang and refused a government request for a stay to allow federal prosecutors in Nebraska to appeal the release to a federal judge in the District of Nebraska. 

Federal prosecutors in Nebraska then successfully appealed Liang’s release and he was then taken back into federal custody on April 10, 2026, by order of the Chief District Court Judge for the District of Nebraska. Liang is presently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service and is being brought to the District of Nebraska for further proceedings in the case.

“Any individuals who unlawfully attempt to acquire sensitive information about military aircraft located in the District of Nebraska will be held maximumly accountable under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. The charge he faces falls under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Section 795.

The criminal complaint is only a charge. Liang has not been convicted and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he is subject to a term of imprisonment of up to one year.  The investigation into whether more serious charges are implicated by the facts in this case is ongoing.  The arrest warrant was pursued to prevent Liang fleeing the country while the investigation was ongoing.

Is it that military aircraft can’t be photographed?

Taking pictures of military jets on its own it not illegal, but Liang appears to be in the wrong here as he did not seek permission to photograph these jets while they were at a restricted military installation.

According to the report, Liang knew taking pictures of these aircraft at the Air Force Base was illegal, but still took the chance citing that he was doing it for his own personal use. He also noted that he used a popular plane spotting website to find publicly accessible locations to photograph the aircraft.

Plane spotting definitely has its challenges. For instance, where I live, plane spotting is heavily frowned upon by local airport authorities, and there are regular patrols around the exterior of the airport perimeter to clamp down on those sneaking photos of arriving and departing aircraft.

Even though the hobby is generally accepted at larger commercial airports, it’s hard to defend Liang in this situation as photographing anything at a military installation can potentially land you in trouble with the law. Even though Liang claims innocence, his national background also complicates the situation given the strained relationship between the United States and China.

It’s not clear what the outcome of this case may be, but if Liang is found guilty of any charges, he may most likely get a slap on the wrist, possibly getting a time served sentence. Of course, we will have to wait to see the final outcome once the matter goes to court.

As for plane spotting, even though websites give a list of publicly accessible locations, always err on the side of caution as these sites do not always advise you of the potential legal ramifications you may face if you are caught photographing aircraft in sensitive locations.

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