Chinese National Charged for Flying Drone Over US Military Base Sparks Investigation into Security Breach

The U.S. government has launched an investigation into potential additional offenses committed by 39-year-old Chinese national Yinpiao Zhou, who was apprehended for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Zhou, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., has been charged with failing to register an aircraft not providing transportation and violating national defense airspace, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the central district of California.

Ongoing Investigation into Additional Offenses Court filings suggest that authorities are actively probing whether Zhou engaged in more serious offenses beyond the initial charges. This development raises concerns about the potential implications of his actions on national security.

ZHOU's Alleged Intent 

While Zhou has not faced specific charges of espionage on behalf of China, an FBI agent involved in the case highlighted their awareness of the tactics employed by foreign adversarial nations to collect intelligence on military infrastructure. This statement underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation into Zhou's activities.

Arrest Details and Charges

Yinpiao Zhou was apprehended on December 9 while attempting to board a flight to China. The arrest was made public through a press release, which shed light on the illegal nature of Zhou's actions. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This defendant allegedly flew a drone over a military base and took photos of the base's layout, which is against the law."

Drone Activity Detected Above Vandenberg Space Force Base 

The press release revealed that the unauthorized drone was detected soaring above Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 30. The drone reportedly operated for nearly one hour, reaching an altitude of almost one mile above ground level, originating from Ocean Park, a public area near the base. Swift action was taken by base security personnel, who approached Zhou and an accomplice, discovering the concealed drone in Zhou's jacket.

Evidence Collected

Subsequent searches of Zhou's drone, conducted pursuant to a federal search warrant, uncovered numerous photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base taken from an aerial perspective. Additionally, a search of Zhou's cellphone revealed a prior Google search for the phrase "Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules" and messages discussing hacking the drone to enhance its flight capabilities. These findings raise significant concerns about Zhou's intent to gather sensitive information related to the military installation.

Unidentified Aircraft Sightings 

Amidst these incidents, there have been reports of unidentified aircraft sightings across New Jersey and other parts of the country. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged that while some of the sightings may involve drones, others could be manned aircraft mistakenly identified as drones. Mayorkas, however, stated that there is no known foreign involvement related to the sightings in the northeast.