A deadly incident has unfolded in Indonesia’s remote Papua region after separatist rebels claimed responsibility for killing an American pilot and setting his aircraft on fire shortly after landing.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said it shot dead US pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin after his aircraft landed in Yahukimo, Highland Papua, on Thursday. The group claimed the aircraft was supporting Indonesian military operations by transporting troops and logistics, accusing civilian flights of assisting security forces in the conflict-hit region.
Indonesian authorities confirmed that the aircraft was found burned at the airport, but said investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened to the pilot and the seven passengers who were reportedly on board. Officials stated that there were no security concerns during the approach, but communication with the aircraft was lost shortly after landing.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said initial reports indicate the pilot may have died, although the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation. Security officials have not yet confirmed whether the aircraft was attacked by separatist fighters.
In a statement, TPNPB spokesman Sebby Sambom claimed the group deliberately targeted the aircraft because it allegedly violated their ban on civilian flights operating in the disputed region. He warned that any civilian aircraft accused of assisting Indonesian military operations could face similar attacks in the future and called for negotiations to resolve the decades-long conflict.
The incident highlights the ongoing violence in Papua, where separatist groups have fought for independence since the territory became part of Indonesia in 1969. The region has witnessed years of armed clashes, civilian displacement, and attacks on both security forces and civilians. In 2024, the same rebel group released a New Zealand pilot after holding him hostage for 19 months following lengthy negotiations.
Authorities are continuing efforts to determine the fate of everyone on board while the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
