Chinese National Arrested for Allegedly Flying Drone Over Military Base Is Being Investigated for More Offenses

Federal attorneys argued that the defendant is a flight risk and should be denied bail.

Members of a Secret Service counter sniper team watch from a control tower as President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on Aug. 25, 2024. Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles is now investigating a Chinese national who was arrested and accused of flying a drone over the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Dec. 9 for more serious offenses.

Yinpiao Zhou had been apprehended by authorities at San Francisco International Airport just before boarding a flight to China, and his drone was seized. Zhou was not arrested at the time and was released.