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

A pioneer aircraft belonging to PT AMA with registration number PK-RCY was set on fire at Ipdeheik Airstrip in Balinggama, Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan. The plane was crewed by one pilot and was carrying seven passengers. Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, stated that the aircraft departed from Wamena Airport on Thursday morning (2/7). Based on initial information received from the Class I Wamena Airport Organising Unit (UPBU), the plane left Wamena Airport at 06.30 WIT with one pilot and seven passengers. Citing RRI, the pilot is suspected to be a foreign national. He explained that the pioneer aircraft was reported to have arrived at Balinggama Airstrip at 06.46 WIT. Lukman confirmed that weather conditions along the route were reported to be good before the flight took place. However, he noted that after the pilot reported the aircraft had landed, communication from the airstrip area post was cut off. Lukman said initial field information indicates that pilot Nicholas F. Goselin was reported dead in the incident. The exact cause of Nicholas’s death is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities. PT AMA, together with the Class I Wamena UPBU and related agencies, are still conducting an investigation and verifying the chronology of the event to ascertain all the facts on the ground. The AMA plane with flight number PK-RCY was previously reported to have been burned by unknown persons at Ipdeheik Airstrip, Balinggama, Sobaham, Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan. The plane burning incident was confirmed by the Head of the Public Relations Task Force for Operation Damai Cartenz-2026, Senior Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo.