https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/13/australian-daniel-duggan-former-us-marine-pilot-training-chinese-fighter-pilotsAustralian pilot Daniel Duggan – a former US Marine Corps aviator – has been accused of breaking American arms control laws by training Chinese fighter pilots to land on aircraft carriers, according to an indictment now unsealed by a US court.
The indictment said the naturalised Australian “provided military training to (PRC) People’s Republic of China pilots” through a “test flying academy” in South Africa between 2010 and 2012.
Duggan was arrested by Australian authorities, at the request of the FBI, in regional New South Wales in October, pending a formal extradition request. The US has until 20 December – 60 days from his arrest – to lodge that request, or Duggan will be eligible for release.
Duggan’s arrest coincided with warnings from Australian and British authorities over the practice of former military pilots being offered lucrative contracts to train pilots in China.
Duggan’s lawyer, Dennis Miralis, has previously said the 54-year-old pilot will fight any extradition request, and resolutely maintains his innocence.
“He denies having breached any US law, any Australian law, any international law,” Miralis said. Miralis did not respond to requests from the Guardian for comment on Tuesday.
On Friday, the District of Columbia court on Friday unsealed the 2017 indictment and a US warrant for Duggan.
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