The US government has accused former US Marine pilot Daniel Duggan of collecting more than $100,000 to teach Chinese pilots how to land on aircraft carriers. According to an unsealed indictment filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, he received 12 payments of $9,900 or $9,500. The words “personal development training” were frequently printed on the receipts.
According to the US government, an unnamed China-based corporation made the payments and “acquired military equipment and technical data for the PRC government and military” as part of the accusation.
Duggan allegedly supplied “aviation services in China,” according to US authorities. Duggan’s aliases include Ding San Xing, Din San Qing, DSQ, and Ivan.
The 54-year-old, in an email in September 2012, allegedly remarked that “he thought his children would be set for life as a result”. This occurred while he was in China, where he also negotiated the terms of his service.
Duggan is accused of training Chinese pilots at a test flight academy in South Africa
Duggan is accused of training Chinese pilots at a test flight academy in South Africa. According to reports, the academy required professors to acquire “knowledge and experience in naval aviation meeting Nato standards”.
According to the indictment, Duggan also actively engaged with a Chinese national about offering further services to a state-owned firm
“These services included the evaluation of military pilot trainees, testing of naval aviation-related equipment, and instructions on tactics, techniques, and procedures associated with launching from and landing on a naval aircraft carrier,” the indictment said.
“Neither Duggan nor any of his coconspirators applied for a license from the United States government to provide defense services to any foreign nationals.”
He now faces four accusations, including conspiracy to defraud the US by illegally exporting defense services to China, conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of breaching the weapons export control act and international traffic in arms rules.
Duggan was earlier arrested by Australian federal police
Duggan was previously arrested by Australian federal police in a New South Wales town on October 21 after the FBI made a request. In December, a request to extradite Duggan to the United States to face charges was also authorized.
Dennis Miralis, his lawyer, previously stated that he will resist any extradition request and that his client believes he is innocent.
“He denies any violation of US law, an Australian law, or international law,” Miralis said in December.