Papua Rebels Claim Killing Of American Pilot, Burn Civilian Aircraft In Indonesia's Conflict-Hit Region

Published 2 July 2026 · us

Papua Rebels Claim Killing Of American Pilot, Burn Civilian Aircraft In Indonesia's Conflict-Hit Region Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 21:30 IST The claim

Papua Rebels Claim Killing Of American Pilot, Burn Civilian Aircraft In Indonesia's Conflict-Hit Region Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 21:30 IST The claim was made by the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), a separatist group involved in a long-running insurgency against the Indonesian government. Indonesian authorities confirmed that the aircraft was found burnt in Yahukimo regency in Highland Papua. Armed separatist rebels in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region claimed responsibility for an attack on a civilian aircraft, alleging they killed an American pilot and set the plane on fire after it landed in a conflict-hit area. The claim was made by the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), a separatist group involved in a long-running insurgency against the Indonesian government. Indonesian authorities confirmed that the aircraft was found burnt in Yahukimo regency in Highland Papua, but said they could not immediately verify the rebels’ account or confirm the reported death of the pilot.

Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the TPNPB, said the group’s fighters shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin after his aircraft landed in the Balinggama district. According to the separatist group, the aircraft was allegedly being used to transport Indonesian military personnel into areas where clashes between security forces and rebels have intensified. Sambom claimed the plane had repeatedly violated a TPNPB ban on civilian flights into territories controlled by the group and said the attack was carried out despite what he described as repeated warnings. The separatist spokesperson described the incident as a “message" to both the Indonesian and US governments. He accused Jakarta and Washington of failing to address what the group calls the root causes of the conflict in Papua. Sambom also warned that aircraft believed by the rebels to be supporting Indonesian military operations could continue to be targeted if flights are allowed into areas the group considers rebel-controlled “red zones".

What Indonesian Authorities Said Indonesia’s joint police-military task force confirmed that an aircraft carrying one American pilot and seven Papuan passengers had been found burnt at a local airport in Yahukimo. However, Yusuf Sutejo, spokesperson for the joint security operation, said authorities could not immediately determine whether the aircraft had been attacked by separatist fighters or confirm reports that the pilot had been killed. The Indonesian Transportation Ministry said the aircraft, operated by PT AMA, had departed from Wamena for Yahukimo carrying one pilot and seven passengers before communication was lost shortly after landing. What Is Known About The Aircraft? According to Indonesian authorities, the plane belonged to PT AMA, a regional airline that provides vital services to remote communities across Papua, transporting food, fuel, mail and other supplies. Neither the airline nor the US Embassy in Jakarta immediately commented on the incident. The attack underscores the deteriorating security situation in Papua, where a decades-long separatist insurgency has become increasingly violent in recent years.