A Chinese citizen was arrested at San Francisco International Airport for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base and capturing unauthorized aerial photographs of the military installation.
Yinpiao Zhou, 39, a U.S. permanent resident from Brentwood, California, was apprehended just before boarding a flight to China. Federal authorities charged him with violating national defense airspace and failing to register an aircraft.
According to court documents, drone detection systems at Vandenberg tracked an unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicle flying over the base for nearly an hour on November 30th, reaching altitudes of almost one mile. Base security personnel located Zhou at nearby Ocean Beach Park with the drone concealed in his jacket.
A subsequent search of Zhou's cellphone revealed he had searched online for "Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules" approximately one month before the incident. Investigators also found messages discussing modifications to override the drone's altitude restrictions.
"This defendant allegedly flew a drone over a military base and took photos of the base's layout, which is against the law," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada in a statement.
The incident occurs amid growing concerns about Chinese surveillance activities targeting U.S. military installations. Vandenberg Space Force Base plays a key role in American defense and space operations, recently hosting both classified satellite launches and ballistic missile tests.
Zhou made his initial court appearance on Tuesday in San Francisco. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison and combined criminal and civil penalties approaching $400,000.
The suspect's last documented trip to China was in February 2023. He remains in federal custody as prosecutors appeal a judge's release decision, with formal arraignment expected in the coming weeks.