TNI Confirms TPNPB Suspected of Burning Aircraft in Yahukimo

The XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command has confirmed an incident involving the burning of an aircraft and the suspected shooting of an American pilot in Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan, on Thursday, 2 July 2026. The Head of Information for Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, Colonel Tri Purwanto, stated that the aircraft was a pioneer plane owned by PT AMA with registration number PK-RCY. The plane was flying from Wamena Airport to the Balinggama Village airstrip. “Based on initial information obtained from the PT AMA Manager and the community, the aircraft is suspected to have been burned by an OPM group,” Tri said via a WhatsApp message on Friday, 3 July 2026. According to information provided by the Wamena Class I Airport Organising Unit, the aircraft was carrying seven passengers. All seven passengers were indigenous Papuans who survived. However, the pilot, a United States passport holder named Nicholas F. Goselin alias Marks, was reported dead. “The exact cause is still under investigation by the authorities,” Tri stated. Tri added that Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, together with the police and local government, continues to coordinate to gather more complete information, including a deeper understanding of the case chronology. “For developments and the situation on the ground, the TNI continues to carry out joint patrols and monitoring,” he said. Previously, the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) claimed responsibility for the shooting of the pilot and the burning of the aircraft in Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan, on Thursday, 2 July. TPNPB central headquarters spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the shooting of the American passport-holding pilot and the arson were carried out directly by TPNPB militia from Kodap XVI Yahukimo, led by Elkius Kobak. Sambom said, “We shot him as an ultimatum so that no more Indonesian airlines fly in the land of Papua.” He explained that 36 TPNPB Kodaps have officially issued a flight ban in their respective areas to all airlines operating in Papua. This ban was taken as a form of anticipation by the TPNPB 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 soldiers 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 prohibit that,” he said.