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Omaha Steve

(109,851 posts)
Tue May 12, 2026, 12:38 PM 9 hrs ago

Chinese student pleads guilty to taking photos of restricted area at Offutt

Source: Lincoln Journal Star

Lori Pilger 2 hrs ago

A 21-year-old Chinese student has pleaded guilty to photographing a defense installation for taking photos of planes at Offutt Air Force Base.

Tianrui Liang faces up to a year of custody and a fine of up to $100,000 at his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Omaha in June.

At a plea hearing there Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Lierman said on March 31 Liang was seen photographing several planes, including the RC-135 and the E-4B, that were in a restricted area of Offutt using a camera with a telescopic lens from a public road east of the perimeter.

An FBI special agent interviewed Liang, who admitted photographing the planes on the ground, knowing it was illegal.


The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, colloquially known as the "Doomsday Plane," is meant to maintain continuity of command during a nuclear exchange. Only four are known to be in existence, based out of Offutt Air Force Base.

Courtesy photo, Airwolfhound on Flickr



Read more: http://archive.today/xxkZV

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Chinese student pleads guilty to taking photos of restricted area at Offutt (Original Post) Omaha Steve 9 hrs ago OP
Lots of photos of these planes are online unc70 9 hrs ago #1
OMG! I used to take pictures of F-14's and E-3 AWACs in San diego, ca from the highway. Jacson6 5 hrs ago #2
Why would you plead guilty for this? ruet 3 hrs ago #3

unc70

(6,513 posts)
1. Lots of photos of these planes are online
Tue May 12, 2026, 12:51 PM
9 hrs ago

You can find images of these planes (and almost any plane) online. Also their flight histories. There is a large and active hobbyist community worldwide.

Jacson6

(2,172 posts)
2. OMG! I used to take pictures of F-14's and E-3 AWACs in San diego, ca from the highway.
Tue May 12, 2026, 04:53 PM
5 hrs ago

It was next to the naval air base. Thankfully I wasn't charged as a teenager and having my life destroyed. Show me the man and I will show you his crime, indeed.

ruet

(10,319 posts)
3. Why would you plead guilty for this?
Tue May 12, 2026, 06:41 PM
3 hrs ago

Assuming the article is correct, if you can see it with your eyes, from a public area, you can photograph it. There must be something else to the story.

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