Papua separatists kill American pilot and set his plane on fire

Separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive easternmost region of Papua have killed an American pilot and burned a civilian plane, according to a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). Sebby Sambom identified the pilot as Nicholas F. Gosselin and said fighters set the plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province.

Sambom stated that the aircraft had been "frequently dropping Indonesian military personnel and violating the TPNPB's ultimatum." The attack in Yahukimo's Balinggama district was a message to Indonesia and the US for "failing to address the root causes of the conflict in Papua between the Indonesian military and the West Papua National Liberation Army." Rebels warned they would continue attacks if Indonesia allowed civilian planes into rebel-controlled red zones.

Yusuf Sutejo, a spokesperson for Indonesia's joint police-military operations in Papua, confirmed a burned plane with an American pilot and seven passengers was found at an airport in Yahukimo, but could not confirm whether it was attacked or the pilot killed. All passengers were Papuans. Indonesia's transportation ministry said the plane, owned by PT AMA, had flown from Wamena and lost communication after landing. PT AMA transports food, fuel, and mail to remote villages.

The US embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In February 2023, Papuan rebels kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens after he landed a small commercial plane in Nduga, Highland Papua; he was freed in September 2024.