The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is monitoring a case involving one of its officers who was detained in the United States for allegedly trying to smuggle out a Taurus PT-22 pistol on April 16.

RMAF chief Gen Tan Sri Rodzali Daud, when contacted by Bernama, said they were waiting for an update on the case from the Defence Advisory Office at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington DC.

"We have not received any new information. We are still waiting for a report from there. If we have complete information, we will issue a statement to the media," he said.

"To date, we don't know when the trial is. Maybe it will take time," he added.

According to a RMAF statement yesterday, the officer was detained while scheduled to depart from the San Angelo Airport in Texas for home after completing a course at the GoodFellow Air Force Base which he had attended since Jan 5.

The officer is now being detained by Texas police and is expected to be charged today (April 21).