Indonesian authorities confirmed that a burnt aircraft was found at a remote airstrip in Yahukimo but said they have not verified the separatists’ claims regarding the pilot’s death or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
BY PC Bureau
July 2026 — Papuan separatist rebels have claimed responsibility for an attack on a civilian aircraft in Indonesia’s Highland Papua province, alleging they killed an American pilot and destroyed the plane after accusing it of supporting Indonesian military operations.
Indonesian authorities have confirmed that the aircraft was found burnt at a remote airstrip in Yahukimo Regency but said they have not independently verified the separatists’ claims regarding the pilot’s death or the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident marks another escalation in the decades-long conflict between Indonesian security forces and armed Papuan separatists, who have increasingly targeted aviation services operating in the mountainous interior of Papua.
Rebels Claim Responsibility
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said the attack occurred after the aircraft landed in Balinggama District, an area the group considers part of its operational territory.
TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom alleged that the aircraft was repeatedly used to transport Indonesian military personnel into areas controlled by the separatist movement despite earlier warnings prohibiting such flights.
According to the group, the aircraft was attacked because it had allegedly violated the TPNPB’s ban on civilian flights into what it describes as “red zones” under rebel control.
The separatists further claimed that the American pilot, identified by the group as Nicholas F. Gosselin, was killed during the operation and that the aircraft was subsequently set on fire.
These claims have not been independently verified.
The TPNPB also warned that similar attacks would continue if civilian aircraft were allowed to operate in areas it considers part of the armed conflict.
Video Released by Separatists
Following the incident, the separatist group released a video purportedly showing armed fighters carrying rifles and traditional weapons while raising the Morning Star flag, the principal symbol of Papuan independence.
In the accompanying statement, Sambom described the attack as a political message directed at both the Indonesian and United States governments, accusing them of ignoring the long-running conflict and the grievances of Indigenous Papuans.
The group called on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to begin internationally mediated negotiations on Papua and appealed to the United Nations to facilitate dialogue involving Jakarta, the TPNPB, and Papuan representatives.
READ: Suspected NSCN-IM Militants Torch Kuki Village in Fresh Violence
🇮🇩🇺🇸 The West Papua National Liberation Army is claiming responsibility for killing a U.S. pilot and burning his civilian aircraft after it landed in Yahukimo, Papua
They’re alleging the plane was used to transport Indonesian military personnel.
7 Papuan passengers were also on… pic.twitter.com/an3yKwV4se
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 2, 2026
Indonesian Authorities Investigating
Indonesia’s joint police-military task force confirmed that a small aircraft carrying one American pilot and seven Papuan passengers was discovered burnt at a local airstrip in Yahukimo.
Security officials said they were still investigating the incident and had not confirmed whether the aircraft had been attacked by separatists or whether the pilot had been killed.
The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation said the aircraft was operated by PT AMA, an aviation company that provides essential services—including food, fuel, mail, and other supplies—to isolated communities across Papua’s mountainous interior.
According to the ministry, the aircraft departed Wamena for Yahukimo before contact was lost shortly after landing.
Neither PT AMA nor the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta had issued an official statement immediately following the incident.
Conflict Continues to Escalate
The attack comes amid increasing violence in Papua, where armed separatist groups have intensified operations against Indonesian security forces and infrastructure in recent years.
Aircraft have become frequent targets because separatists accuse Indonesia of using civilian aviation to support military deployments into conflict-affected regions. Indonesian authorities deny the allegation, maintaining that civilian flights primarily deliver essential supplies and transportation to remote communities.
The latest claims also revive memories of the 2023 abduction of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who was held hostage by Papuan separatists in Nduga Regency for more than a year before being released in 2024.
A Long-Running Insurgency
Papua has experienced a low-intensity separatist insurgency for decades, rooted in disputes over the territory’s integration into Indonesia following the controversial 1969 Act of Free Choice. Many Indigenous Papuans argue the process lacked legitimacy and continue to seek self-determination, while Jakarta maintains that Papua is an integral part of Indonesia.
The conflict has been marked by recurring armed clashes, allegations of human rights abuses, displacement of civilians, and periodic attacks on security forces, infrastructure, and aircraft serving remote highland communities.
As investigations continue, authorities have yet to confirm the fate of the American pilot or establish the full circumstances surrounding the destruction of the aircraft.
