Former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan is facing extradition to the United States for allegedly training Chinese aviators in violation of U.S. arms control laws. A Sydney judge ruled that Duggan can be extradited, leaving the attorney-general as his last hope of remaining in Australia. Duggan’s lawyers will make submissions to the attorney-general on why he should not be surrendered. Duggan’s wife, Saffrine Duggan, urged the attorney-general to reconsider the case and bring her husband home.
Duggan has spent 19 months in a maximum-security prison since his arrest in 2022 at his family home in New South Wales. In a 2016 indictment from the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., prosecutors allege Duggan conspired to provide training to Chinese military pilots without the appropriate license. He received payments and international travel for what was described as “personal development training.” Duggan, a former U.S. Marine Corps major, immigrated to Australia in 2002 and became an Australian citizen in 2012, giving up his U.S. citizenship.
Duggan has denied the allegations, claiming they are political posturing by the United States and unfairly targeted him. He worked at a company called Top Gun Tasmania, which offered adventure flight services. Duggan’s lawyer stated in a legal filing that the pilot unknowingly worked with a Chinese hacker, and they are preparing submissions to the attorney-general to challenge the extradition ruling. Duggan’s wife described the extradition court hearing as just “ticking boxes” and called for her husband to be brought back home.
The U.S. prosecutors allege Duggan provided training to Chinese pilots in China, South Africa, and potentially at other times, receiving payments and international travel in return. The indictment against Duggan outlined the charges related to the training of Chinese military pilots without proper authorization. Despite his denial of the allegations, Duggan faces the prospect of extradition and potential prosecution in the United States. The attorney-general’s office stated they do not comment on extradition matters, leaving the decision on Duggan’s fate in their hands.
