An Australian judge has dismissed an appeal by Daniel Duggan, a former US Marine Corps pilot, who is fighting extradition to the United States over allegations he illegally trained Chinese military aviators more than a decade ago.
Mr Duggan is accused of training Chinese military pilots while working for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa. He denies the allegations, calling them “political posturing” and claiming the US unfairly singled him out.
Federal Court Justice James Stellios ruled no jurisdictional error was made in 2024 by then Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in ordering Duggan’s extradition.
Outside the Canberra court, Duggan’s wife, Saffrine Duggan, a mother of six, said his lawyers would consider a further appeal. They are also urging the current Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, to reverse the extradition order.
“We are very disappointed by this ruling and we will consider our options carefully. But make no mistake, we will not give up,” Saffrine Duggan said. “Today does not end our search for justice.”
A 2016 indictment from the US District Court in Washington, unsealed in late 2022, alleges Duggan conspired with others to provide training to Chinese military pilots in 2010 and 2012 without applying for an appropriate license. Duggan, 57, has been held in maximum security prisons since his arrest in 2022.
