A Chinese national, Tianrui Liang, 21, was arrested at JFK Airport in New York for allegedly photographing sensitive military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
Liang, a student at Glasgow University in Scotland, violated a federal law that restricts photographing defense installations without authorization.
He was taken into custody while trying to board an international flight, just days after a warrant was issued in Nebraska.
Liang admitted to photographing several aircraft at the base, including the RC-135 and the E-4B, and said he identified photography locations using a 'planespotter' website.
He allegedly planned to travel to Oklahoma to photograph additional aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base.
