A Chinese national has been apprehended at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), moments before boarding a flight to China, in connection with an unauthorized drone flight over the highly secure Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The suspect, 39-year-old Yinpiao Zhou, is accused of flying a drone over the base on November 30 and capturing photographs of restricted areas, including SpaceX launch pads.
Zhou, a lawful permanent US resident, now faces charges of violating national defense airspace and failing to register his drone as required by law. If convicted, he could face up to four years in federal prison.
The drone flight coincided with a SpaceX rocket launch carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, a federal agency overseeing spy satellites. Detection systems at Vandenberg tracked the drone as it soared to an altitude of nearly one mile, flying for almost an hour before investigators traced it back to a nearby Ocean Park location.
When approached, Zhou was accompanied by another individual and attempted to hide the drone in his jacket. After initial denial, he admitted to flying the drone and recording images of the base. A subsequent federal search revealed photos on the drone and evidence on Zhou’s phone that he had researched “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” and discussed hacking the drone to bypass altitude and geofencing restrictions.
Zhou’s arrest at SFO underscores the meticulous planning involved in securing restricted military sites. Authorities noted that Zhou had returned to the US from China earlier in February and that the companion present during the drone operation had also recently arrived from China. The incident raises fresh concerns about potential espionage or other motives behind such breaches.
The Vandenberg drone breach isn’t an isolated incident. Across the US and abroad, mysterious drone activity over sensitive sites has prompted heightened security concerns. Recently, in New Jersey, drones were spotted near an air base and one of Donald Trump’s golf courses, sparking calls for a temporary ban on drone flights. Meanwhile, in the UK, unidentified drones were seen over two RAF bases used by the US Air Force, with some officials suspecting foreign state involvement.
These incidents highlight the challenges of securing critical infrastructure as drones become increasingly accessible and sophisticated. While sites like Vandenberg employ advanced detection and counter-drone systems, the growing frequency of such breaches emphasizes the need for innovative countermeasures.
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