An Australian judge has firmly rejected an appeal by former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan to avoid extradition to the United States. The case centres on allegations that Duggan illegally trained Chinese military aviators more than a decade ago, a charge he strongly denies as political posturing.
Court Ruling and Legal Arguments
Federal Court Justice James Stellios ruled on Thursday that no jurisdictional error was made in 2024 by the then Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus when ordering Duggan's extradition. The judge dismissed the appeal, upholding the original decision. Duggan is accused of providing training to Chinese military pilots while working as an instructor for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa in 2010 and 2012, and possibly at other times.
Background of the Allegations
A 2016 indictment from the U.S. District Court in Washington, which was unsealed in late 2022, alleges that Duggan conspired with others to offer this training without applying for the appropriate license. Prosecutors claim he received approximately nine payments totalling around 88,000 Australian dollars (equivalent to $61,000) from a co-conspirator, along with travel to the U.S., South Africa, and China. This travel was sometimes described as "personal development training."
Family Reaction and Next Steps
Outside the court in Canberra, Duggan's wife, Saffrine Duggan, who is the mother of his six children, expressed deep disappointment. She told reporters that his legal team would carefully consider a further appeal. Lawyers are also petitioning Michelle Rowland, the successor to Mark Dreyfus as attorney-general, 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 stated. "Today does not end our search for justice." Rowland's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Duggan's Current Situation
Daniel Duggan, a 57-year-old born in Boston, has been detained in maximum security prisons since his arrest in 2022 at a supermarket near his family home in New South Wales. He maintains his innocence, arguing that the allegations are politically motivated and that the U.S. is unfairly targeting him. The case highlights ongoing tensions in international military training and extradition protocols between allied nations.
