AMA Plane Torched in Yahukimo: Foreign Pilot Killed, 7 Passengers Aboard

The AMA pioneer aircraft, with registration number PK-RCXY, which was burnt at Ipdeheik Airport, Balinggama, Yahukimo, Papua Highlands, was operated by one pilot and carrying seven passengers.

The Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, stated that the aircraft departed from Wamena Airport on Thursday (2/7) morning.

“Based on initial information received from the Class I Wamena Airport Authority (UPBU), the aircraft departed from Wamena Airport at 06:30 WIT carrying one pilot and seven passengers,” he said in a written statement. Citing RRI, the pilot is suspected to be a foreign national.

He explained that the pioneer aircraft was reported to have arrived at Balinggama Airfield at 06:46 WIT. Lukman confirmed that before the flight took place, weather conditions on the route were reported to be good.

“Before the flight was carried out, weather information on the flight route was reported to be in good condition,” he explained.

However, he noted that after the pilot reported that the aircraft had landed, communication from the airport area post was reported to have been severed.

“After the pilot reported that the aircraft had landed, communication from the post in the airport area was reported to have been cut off,” he said.

Lukman stated that according to initial information from the field, pilot Nicholas F. Goselin was reported to have died in the incident. The exact cause of Nicholas’s death is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities.

“Initial reports from the Head of UPBU Class I Wamena indicate that the aircraft pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, is reported to have passed away,” he clarified.

“Currently, PT AMA, together with UPBU Class I Wamena and relevant agencies, is still conducting further investigation and verifying the chronology of the event to ensure all facts on the ground are confirmed,” he added.

The AMA aircraft, flight number PK-RCXY, was previously reported to have been burnt by unknown persons (OTK) at Ipdeheik Airport, Balinggama, Sobaham, Yahukimo, Papua Highlands.

The aircraft burning incident has been confirmed by the Head of Public Relations for the Cartenz-2026 Peace Operation Task Force, Kombes Yusuf Sutejo.

“The incident is true (the aircraft was burnt),” he stated when confirmed via a short message.