American Pilot Killed in Aircraft Arson Incident in Yahukimo, Papua

An American pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, has been reported dead following an incident in which a pioneer aircraft was set on fire at Ipdeheik Airport in the Balinggama area, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands. Director General of Air Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, stated that initial reports from the field indicated the pilot had died in the incident. However, he noted that the exact cause of death is still being investigated by the authorities. “The initial report from the Head of Class I UPBU Wamena stated that the pilot of the aircraft, named Nicholas F. Goselin, was reported to have died,” he said in a written statement on Thursday (2/7). “The suspected cause of the incident is still awaiting further confirmation from the authorities,” he added. Laisa explained that the flight manifest showed Goselin was born in Connecticut, USA, on 16 November 1996. He was an American national working as a pilot for PT AMA and resided in Sentani, Papua. The aircraft, with registration number PK-RCY, had departed from Wamena Airport on Thursday morning carrying a total of seven passengers. Laisa confirmed that the plane arrived at Balinggama airstrip at 06:46 Eastern Indonesian Time and that weather conditions along the route were reported to be good before the flight. “Before the flight took place, weather information on the flight route was reported to be in good condition,” he said. However, after the pilot reported that the aircraft had landed, communication from the airstrip post was cut off. The aircraft was set ablaze by unknown individuals. The Head of Public Relations for the Cartenz Peace Operation 2026, Police Commissioner Yusuf Sutejo, confirmed the arson. “The incident is true (the plane was burned),” he said via text message.