Facts About the Shooting of a US Pilot in Papua

Armed conflict in Papua has returned to the spotlight after an American pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, was shot dead by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM). Goselin was shot whilst flying a plane owned by PT AMA in the Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Thursday, 2 July 2026. The aircraft piloted by Nicholas was targeted because it was suspected of carrying logistics for Indonesian military (TNI) troops in Papua. TPNPB central headquarters spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the shooting of the US passport-holding pilot and the burning of the aircraft were carried out by TPNPB militia from the XVI Yahukimo Regional Defence Command, led by Elkius Kobak. ‘We shot him as an ultimatum so that no more Indonesian airlines fly in the land of Papua,’ Sambom said in a written statement on Friday, 3 July 2026. He explained that 36 TPNPB regional defence commands (Kodap) have issued flight bans in their respective areas to all airlines operating in Papua. The ban is a TPNPB precaution against the deployment of non-organic TNI soldiers to Papua. According to Sambom, Indonesian airlines operating in the region, including the PT AMA aircraft burned in Yahukimo, are frequently used to transport TNI personnel or logistics to remote areas of Papua. ‘They bring the TNI, send logistics and weapons to carry out military operations that make the Papuan people suffer. We forbid that,’ he said. Since December 2024, the TPNPB has claimed to have designated nine regencies in Papua as war zones, prohibiting civilian access. These nine areas include Nduga, Pegunungan Bintang, Puncak Jaya, Intan Jaya, Maybrat, Paniai, Dogiyai, Deiyai, and Yahukimo Regency. Sambom said the TPNPB had repeatedly warned about the areas they call war zones. ‘This is the Indonesian government’s mistake for allowing civilian aircraft to enter a war zone,’ he said. Following the incident, TNI soldiers from the Habema Operations Command (Koops Habema) conducted a special operation to take control of the Ipdeheik Airstrip in Balinggama Village, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, the location of the pilot shooting and the burning of the pioneer aircraft. Head of Information for Koops Habema, Lieutenant Colonel Wirya Arthadiguna, said the operation was carried out to secure the airstrip as an entry point for assistance and to support the implementation of tactical search and rescue (SAR) and victim evacuation. In the operation, Koops Habema deployed 10 soldiers supported by two Caracal helicopters. According to Wirya, helicopters were used due to the high difficulty of the mountainous terrain at the location. Wirya stated that his troops had successfully evacuated the victim, and the body had arrived in Timika for further handling. ‘Subsequently, the body will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further processing in accordance with applicable procedures,’ he said. After the evacuation, the TNI deployed soldiers from Koops Habema to pursue the TPNPB-OPM group suspected of shooting the pioneer aircraft pilot in Yahukimo, Papua Highlands. Based on information obtained, the shooting of the pilot and the burning of the pioneer aircraft were allegedly carried out by the TPNPB group led by Elkius Kobak. ‘The Koops Habema patrol team immediately conducted a sweep and pursuit of the perpetrators to maintain the security situation and support the law enforcement process,’ Wirya said.