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American pilot and plane burned in Papua after rebels say aircraft violated their ultimatum
Rebels in Indonesia's Highland Papua province shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin and torched his aircraft on July 2, 2026. The plane, carrying seven Papuan passengers, was found burned at a local airport in the Balinggama district of Yahukimo.
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Rebels in Indonesia's Highland Papua province shot dead American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin and set fire to his civilian aircraft after it landed on July 2, 2026. The burned plane was found at a local airport in the Balinggama district of Yahukimo, according to @SCMPNews reported.
The aircraft had flown from Wamena and was owned by PT AMA. It carried Nicholas F. Gosselin and seven Papuan passengers, @SCMPNews reported. Sebby Sambom, spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army, stated that the plane had been frequently dropping Indonesian military personnel and violating the TPNPB’s ultimatum.
He said the attack was a message to the Indonesian and US governments for failing to address the root causes of the conflict in Papua between the Indonesian military and the West Papua National Liberation Army, @SCMPNews reported. Yusuf Sutejo, spokesman for Indonesia’s joint police-military operations in Papua, confirmed that a plane with an American pilot and seven Papuan passengers was found burned at Yahukimo airport.
He could not confirm whether the plane had been attacked by rebels or whether the pilot was killed, @SCMPNews reported.
