Ministry temporarily closes 11 Papua pioneer airports after shooting
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi announced the temporary closure of 11 pioneer airports in Papua owing to inadequate security, following a fatal shooting incident targeting a commercial aircraft.
“One of our current preventive measures is to close several airports that lack adequate security to prevent undesirable incidents,” Purwagandhi said during a working meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The closures were implemented because inadequate security poses a significant risk to crews and passengers on pioneer flights.
The ministry is coordinating intensively with stakeholders to ensure optimal security around airports, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, outermost and border regions (3TP). This coordination involves the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to maintain regional stability.
These efforts support government goals to gradually restore air transportation at the affected pioneer airports.
The ministry confirmed that operators who suspend flights in the Papua region for safety reasons will not face sanctions. Flights may resume once security conditions at destination airports are met. Operators have full authority to conduct security assessments and decide whether to continue operations.
The ministry remains concerned following the 11 February 2026 shooting of a PT Smart Cakrawala Aviation Cessna Grand Caravan PK-SNR on the Tanah Merah–Danawage/Koroway Batu route. The attack, which occurred in Boven Digoel District, South Papua, resulted in the deaths of both the pilot and co-pilot.
The 11 closed pioneer airports are Koroway Batu, Bomakia, Yaniruma, Manggelum, Kapiraya, Iwur, Faowi, Dagai, Aboy, Teraplu and Beoga.
Meanwhile, five other airports — Kiwirok, Moanamani, Sinak, Illu and Agandugume — remain in a vulnerable but controlled condition. Security at these locations is provided by TNI-Polri, allowing operations to continue under close monitoring.