After an extensive legal struggle, an ex-US military pilot accused of instructing Chinese military personnel faces extradition from Australia following the rejection of his appeal.

Daniel Duggan has been detained for three-and-a-half years amid allegations of violating US arms trafficking regulations by mentoring Chinese pilots in South Africa between 2010 and 2012.

In 2022, he was apprehended at the request of the US authorities while shopping in a regional New South Wales supermarket, where he resided with his wife, Saffrine, and their six children.

The Duggan family’s protracted battle against this extradition suffered a significant setback in December 2024 when the then-Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, sanctioned the move.

They contested this decision in the Federal Court, which delivered its verdict on Thursday in Canberra.

Justice James Stellios rejected the appeal and directed Duggan to cover the government’s legal expenses in what was a succinct but impactful ruling.

An appeal against the judge’s ruling can be lodged within 28 days.

Duggan’s lawyers argued the offence he is accused of was not classified as an offence in Australia at the time, which is contrary to the requirements of an extradition treaty.

An offence must have been criminal in both the requesting and requested countries for an extradition to be legally permissible.

Saffrine Duggan gathered with supporters to hear the decision being handed down.

She has been open about the crippling financial toll the legal battle has taken on her family, who estimate their legal bills amount to about half a million dollars.

Duggan has been refused Legal Aid, while an injunction placed on his family’s half-built house means they can neither sell it nor live in it.

He had been kept in a maximum security prison in central NSW around 100km from his family, Saffrine Duggan previously revealed.

Charges and an indictment were first filed against the Australian citizen in a sealed court case during US President Donald Trump’s first term.

Duggan previously wrote in a letter from prison that he believed his activities were not illegal and Australian and US intelligence services knew of his work.

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