A Chinese national residing in Los Angeles has been arrested for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California, and capturing aerial images of the military installation.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday that Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to board a flight to China. Zhou faces charges of violating national defense airspace and failing to register an aircraft not providing transportation, as outlined in federal court filings.
The incident occurred on November 30, when Vandenberg Space Force Base’s drone detection systems identified an unmanned aerial vehicle flying over the base. The drone was traced to a public area, identified as Ocean Park near the base, where it had launched.
According to prosecutors, the drone reached an altitude of nearly one mile above ground level during its flight, which lasted close to an hour. Base security personnel located Zhou in the area alongside another unidentified individual. Zhou was discovered with the drone concealed in his jacket, according to the affidavit filed in court.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Zhou’s drone had captured multiple aerial photographs of the base. Authorities searched Zhou’s cellphone and uncovered evidence suggesting premeditation, including a Google search conducted a month earlier for “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules.” Additionally, Zhou had engaged in text messages with an associate discussing methods to hack the drone to override altitude restrictions.
Federal prosecutors disclosed that Zhou, a permanent U.S. resident, most recently visited China in February. The individual accompanying him at the time of the incident had entered the United States from China on November 26.
While the DOJ has not released further details about Zhou’s companion, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., stated that they were working to verify the information.
Following his arrest, Zhou made his first court appearance in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered his release on personal recognizance, meaning Zhou could leave custody without bail under the condition that he attend all future court proceedings.
However, federal prosecutors have appealed this decision, stating that Zhou remains in federal custody until further rulings are made. His arraignment is expected to take place in the coming weeks at a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Zhou has not yet entered a plea.
This arrest also comes amidst broader concerns in Washington over potential Chinese espionage activities targeting sensitive military and government sites. Earlier this year, Wenheng Zhao, a China-born U.S. citizen, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for sharing classified Navy operational information with a Chinese intelligence contact.
