Oh, nothing to see here.
Just a former American flight instructor and pilot accused of pulling an Eileen Gu, but on a much bigger stage.
We used to hang traitors, ya know?
Here's the official Justice Department release:
Former U.S. Air Force officer and pilot Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., also known by the call sign 'Runner,' 65, a U.S. citizen, was arrested today in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Brown was charged by criminal complaint for providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). Brown is expected to have his initial appearance before a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana on February 26, 2026.
'The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defense of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots,' said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. 'When U.S. persons - whether military or civilian - provide training to a foreign military, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the State Department. The National Security Division will use all tools at its disposal to protect our military advantages and hold to account those who would violate the AECA.'
Come on, Gerald, what were you thinking?
Here's more from CNN:
Aviation analyst Peter Layton of the Griffith Asia Institute, a former Royal Australian Air Force officer, told CNN that China could have learned a range of things from Brown.
'If I was China, I would also be most interested in "nuclear weapons delivery systems" and the tactics planned to deliver nuclear weapons,' Layton said.
China could have also tried to learn what tactics F-35 pilots use to avoid detection in both offensive strike and air defense roles.
