US Justice Department has arrested a Chinese national Yinpiao Zhou, for flying a drone over California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base and recording images of the facility on Thursday. Authorities detained Zhou at San Francisco International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to China.
Zhou is accused of violating US national security laws by taking aerial photographs of the base, which is used for space missions and missile tests. The Justice Department emphasized that national security and the safety of military facilities remain top priorities.
Vandenberg’s detection systems tracked a drone flying approximately one mile above the base in late November. Following the sighting, officials traced the drone to Zhou, who was found hiding it in a nearby park. Upon inspecting the device, authorities discovered photographs of the base.
Zhou, a Chinese citizen and lawful permanent US resident, did not plead when charged with failure to register an aircraft and violating national defense airspace. His next court appearance is expected in Los Angeles. He remains in custody as prosecutors appeal his bail release.
