Former US Air Force fighter pilot accused of secretly training Chinese military

Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., a former US Air Force fighter pilot, was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, after returning from China this month. The Department of Justice alleges Brown, who served in the Air Force for 24 years, trained pilots from China's People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) between 2023 and 2026 without authorization. He is charged with violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) by providing defense services to the Chinese military. Brown, also known as "Runner," previously worked as a simulator instructor for US defense contractors, training American pilots on advanced aircraft like the A-10 and F-35. He is expected to appear in court in the Southern District of Indiana.

Former US Air Force Major Gerald Brown was arrested in Indiana on Wednesday and charged with illegally training Chinese military pilots. The Justice Department alleges Brown, a former F-35 instructor pilot, provided defense services to China without authorization, potentially compromising US national security. Brown, who served in the Air Force for 24 years and later worked as a defense contractor training US pilots, is accused of betraying his country by using his expertise to enhance China's military capabilities. The FBI's Counterintelligence division emphasized that the Chinese government exploits the knowledge of former US military personnel to modernize its armed forces. Brown faces prosecution in the District of Columbia.