11 Pioneer Airports in Papua Temporarily Closed for Security Following Smart Air Pilot Shooting

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has announced the closure of 11 pioneer airports in the Papua region following the shooting of a pilot and co-pilot from Smart Air at Koroway Batu Airport, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua, on Wednesday 11 February 2026.

According to the minister, the temporary closure of the 11 pioneer airports and airstrips in Papua was undertaken as a preventive measure to ensure flight safety and operational security at the facilities.

“One of our preventive actions at present is to close several airports that we feel do not yet have adequate security, given concerns that undesirable incidents could occur,” the minister said during a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission V in Jakarta on Wednesday 18 February 2026.

Dudy explained that the closures were ordered because the airports in question were assessed as lacking sufficient security arrangements, potentially posing risks to crew and passengers on pioneer aviation operations.

The Ministry of Transport, he continued, has been conducting intensive coordination with various stakeholders to ensure that security conditions around the airports can be managed optimally, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, outermost and border areas (known by the Indonesian acronym 3TP), in order to protect pioneer air services.

“Especially those located in 3TP areas, as occurred recently in Papua with the shooting of the pilot and co-pilot, we have been coordinating with stakeholders,” the minister said.

The coordination involves security forces from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), who are tasked with maintaining stability in the region.

These efforts are also intended to support the government’s plan to gradually restore air transport activity at the directly affected pioneer airports.

“We are coordinating with the TNI and Polri to ensure that security at these airports can be managed to the best possible standard,” the minister said.

The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that operators suspending pioneer flights in the Papua region on security and safety grounds will not face sanctions.

“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation affirms that operators who suspend flights for security reasons will not be subject to sanctions,” said Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa.