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The Missouri Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday that a Chinese man was arrested last month after allegedly capturing two US Air Force bases and their military equipment, including B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
Authorities identified the 35-year-old as Qilin Wu, who entered the US illegally in 2023 near the Arizona-Mexico border. While Qu was initially detained by immigration authorities, he was later released due to a lack of detention facilities and granted immigration removal proceedings scheduled for 2027, officials said.
The attorney’s office said investigators first arrested Wu on Dec. 2. near Whiteman Air Force Base, which is home to the military’s fleet of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, a highly sensitive asset due to its nuclear capabilities and stealth.
After initially receiving a warning, Wu reportedly returned the next day. Authorities then arrested Wu, who was allegedly found with 18 photos and videos of the site. He also admitted to taking pictures of another US Air Force base, officials said, without naming the second location.
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A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber takes off from the area. (Whiteman Air Force Base)
Wu was indicted in federal court in the Western District of Missouri. He is charged with taking photographs of important military installations and military equipment without permission.
Officials said on Dec. 2, a minivan with a Massachusetts license plate was reported near the perimeter of Whiteman Air Force Base. The patrol officers then found Wu, who said he was there to check out the B-2 Spirit plane, and informed him that he was not allowed to take pictures or record video of the installation.
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A mission guides a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base. (Whiteman Air Force Base)
The next day, police were notified of a similar van nearby, the attorney’s office said. Agents also reportedly found Wu, who admitted to taking videos of the B-2 Spirit plane and dozens of photos of the site, including its fencing, gate and military equipment. Wu handed over his phone, which contained 18 photos and videos, and admitted to officials that he photographed another US Air Force base and its aircraft, officials said.
According to court documents, Wu is a Chinese national who entered the United States illegally on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona, but was released after promising to attend an immigration removal hearing scheduled for Feb. 9, 2027, officials said.
A number of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are seen on the runway at Whiteman Air Force Base. (Whiteman Air Force Base)
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If convicted, Wu could face up to one year in state prison.
The case was investigated by the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Air Force Security Forces and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, officials said.
