Armed separatists in Indonesia’s Papua region have claimed responsibility for killing an American pilot and setting his aircraft on fire after it landed at a remote airstrip in Highland Papua province.
The West Papua National Liberation Army, known locally as TPNPB, said its fighters shot dead US pilot Nicholas F. Goselin after his aircraft landed at Ipdeheik airstrip in Balinggama village, Yahukimo regency, on Thursday.
The aircraft was operated by Indonesian aviation company PT AMA, which provides flights to remote communities in Papua’s mountainous interior. Indonesian security forces later recovered Goselin’s body from the airstrip, according to the military.
Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the separatist group, said the attack was intended as a message to the United States and Indonesian governments. He accused them of failing to address what the group described as the root causes of the decades-long conflict between Indonesian security forces and Papuan separatists.
The group alleged that the aircraft had been used to transport Indonesian military personnel and supplies into areas under its control. Indonesian authorities denied the allegation, saying the flight was civilian and was not carrying troops.
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said there were eight people on board the aircraft, including the pilot and seven passengers. The passengers were Indigenous Papuan civilians, including three women, and officials said they were unharmed.
The aircraft had departed from Wamena before landing at the remote airstrip. The pilot reportedly informed authorities that the plane had landed, but communication with the aircraft and the airstrip was lost soon afterward.
Brigadier General Riyanto, deputy commander of the Indonesian military’s Habema Operations Command, confirmed that security personnel recovered the pilot’s body after securing the area.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” Riyanto said.
“Our priority is rescuing the victims, securing the location, protecting the community, and supporting law enforcement efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he added.
The attack highlights the continuing security risks in Papua, where separatist groups have fought for independence from Indonesia for decades. Violence in the region has intensified in recent years, particularly in remote highland areas where aircraft are essential for transporting people, medical supplies and basic goods.
Separatist fighters have previously targeted aviation operations in Papua. In 2023, a New Zealand pilot was abducted by rebels and held for more than a year before being released. Indonesian authorities have accused armed groups of using violence to intimidate civilians and disrupt development projects, while separatists continue to demand international negotiations over Papua’s political future.
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