Rebels in Indonesia’s troubled Papua region shot dead an American pilot and set his aircraft ablaze on Thursday, in what separatist fighters described as a deliberate “message” to both the United States and the Indonesian government. The attack marks a sharp escalation in a long‑running low‑level war for independence in the country’s easternmost province.
Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), said rebel troops opened fire on pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin after his plane landed in the remote Yahukimo region of Highland Papua. He claimed the aircraft had “frequently dropped Indonesian military personnel” and violated a rebel ultimatum, prompting fighters to kill the pilot and torch the plane.
Indonesia’s joint police‑military operations spokesperson Yusuf Sutejo confirmed that a burned aircraft carrying an American pilot and seven Papuan passengers was found at a local airport. However, he said authorities could not yet verify whether rebels were responsible or whether the pilot had been killed.
All passengers on board were Papuan civilians, according to officials.
Papua has endured decades of conflict as separatist groups seek independence from Indonesia. In recent years, attacks have grown more frequent and deadly as rebel factions acquire more sophisticated weapons. The killing of a foreign pilot is likely to intensify international scrutiny of the region’s deteriorating security situation.
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