Australian judge rejects US Marine pilot’s appeal against extradition to U.S.

MELBOURNE, Australia — An appeal by former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan to avoid extradition to the United States has been rejected by an Australian judge. The allegations against Duggan involve illegal training of Chinese military aviators more than a decade ago.

Duggan, who denies the accusations, is said to have trained Chinese military pilots while working as an instructor for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa. He claims the charges are politically motivated and that he is being unfairly targeted by the U.S.

Federal Court Justice James Stellios dismissed the appeal, stating that no jurisdiction error was made in 2024 when the then Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus ordered Duggan’s extradition.

Following the ruling, Duggan’s wife, Saffrine Duggan, expressed disappointment and mentioned that their legal team would explore further avenues for appeal. They are also seeking the current Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, to reverse the extradition order.

Saffrine Duggan stated, “We are very disappointed by this ruling and we will consider our options carefully. But make no mistake, we will not give up. Today does not end our search for justice.”

There has been no immediate response from Rowland’s office regarding the matter.

An indictment from the U.S. District Court in Washington in 2016, unsealed in late 2022, alleges that Duggan conspired to provide training to Chinese military pilots without the necessary license. Prosecutors claim Duggan received payments and travel expenses for these activities.

Duggan, a 57-year-old native of Boston, has been in custody since his arrest in 2022 near his home in New South Wales.