Separatist insurgents in Indonesia’s Papua region have killed an American pilot and set his aircraft ablaze to convey a “message.” The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed responsibility for the death of Nicholas F Gosselin, a pilot for Indonesian aviation firm PT AMA, upon his arrival in Highland Papua province on Thursday.
Alleging that civilian pilots have been aiding Indonesian troops in the region, the separatists targeted Gosselin as a symbolic act. However, Gosselin’s friend, Kenneth Jagers, clarified on social media that the pilot was on a humanitarian mission and not involved in military activities.
Contrary to the separatists’ claims, the Indonesian military refuted any troop transportation on the plane, confirming that the passengers were Indigenous Papuan civilians, including three women, who remained unharmed.
The conflict between Indigenous Papuans and Indonesian security forces in Papua has intensified recently, resulting in numerous casualties among rebels, security personnel, and civilians. Foreign pilots have become a particular target for the insurgents.
Indonesia’s civil aviation authority initially reported no security issues upon Gosselin’s landing, but communication was subsequently lost with the airstrip. The military spokesperson in Papua, Wirya Artadiguna, confirmed the separatist group’s involvement in the attack and the recovery of the American pilot’s body.
In a statement to the Associated Press, rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom justified the attack as a response to the violation of their ban on civilian aircraft in their claimed operational territory.
The Indonesian armed forces mobilized a unit from Habema Operations Command to retrieve Gosselin’s body. Security forces are actively pursuing those responsible for the attack, conducting a special operation to secure the airfield and a tactical search-and-rescue mission.
Nick Goselin, identified as a pilot in command for Associated Mission Aviation in Papua, previously worked as a pilot in Alaska, as per his LinkedIn profile.
