Papuan separatists kill US pilot, burn plane in attack

hartono · Jul 3, 2026

Papuan separatists kill US pilot, burn plane in attack

A Pilatus aircraft belonging to Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) attacked by separatists in Yahukimo District, Highland Papua. ANTARA/HO/nbl.

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Papuan armed separatists attacked a passenger aircraft in Yahukimo, Highland Papua, on Thursday, killing an American pilot and setting the plane ablaze, Indonesian police and military officials said.

Yahukimo Police Chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner Zet Salino said the attackers were members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM)-affiliated armed group, officially designated as an armed criminal group (KKB).

He said the attack occurred in Balinggama Village, which is accessible only by air and lies about 30 minutes by plane from Dekai, the Yahukimo district capital.

Habema Joint Operations Command spokesman Lt. Col. Wirya Arthadiguna said rescue efforts were delayed by bad weather and would resume Friday morning.

"The team will be deployed Friday morning to evacuate American pilot Nicholas F. Goselin, 20, who was killed in the attack," Arthadiguna said.

Arthadiguna also confirmed the attackers burned the aircraft, operated by Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) and registered as PK-RCY.

The aircraft was flying from Wamena to Balinggama with seven passengers.

The passengers were identified as Eston Sobolim, Kluenang Sobolim, Toni Balingga, Elina Sobolim, Ona Sobolim, Lisenia Balingga and Vaince Amo Hoso. Their conditions were not immediately known.

Violence linked to the Free Papua Movement has intensified in recent years, with attacks targeting civilians, infrastructure workers and Indonesian security forces.

One of the most high-profile incidents was the abduction of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens in Nduga District on Feb. 7, 2023, by fighters led by Egianus Kogoya.

Mehrtens was held captive for more than a year before being released in September 2024.