Transport Minister states that 11 airports in Papua that were temporarily closed are now operational again

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that 11 remote airports in the Papua region, which were temporarily closed following a shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of a pilot and co-pilot, are now operating normally. “They have been opened, they have been opened, they have been opened,” the Minister said when confirmed during a conversation with the media in Jakarta on Thursday evening. The temporary closure of those airports was previously carried out by the government as a security measure following the shooting incident that raised concerns about aviation safety in several remote areas of Papua. The shooting incident occurred on Thursday (11/2). Dudy emphasised that all affected airports have now been reopened after security assurances from the authorities, ensuring that flight activities can proceed safely and under control. “Because there is indeed a security guarantee from the apparatus,” said the Transport Minister. He also conveyed that the government is continuously coordinating intensively with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to maintain ongoing security stability around those remote airports. According to him, with the reopening of all those airports, air transport connectivity in Papua can recover, allowing community mobility and logistics distribution to run smoothly without significant disruptions. “Yes, they have been opened, they have been opened. No problems. We are indeed continuously coordinating with the security parties, TNI and Polri,” said the Transport Minister. Previously, the Ministry of Transport temporarily closed 11 remote airports in the Papua region as a preventive measure following the shooting of the pilot and co-pilot to ensure flight safety and airport operational security. The closure of the 11 remote airports and airstrips was in response to the shooting of the Smart Cakrawala Aviation aircraft, which resulted in the deaths of the remote aircraft’s pilot and co-pilot. In the incident that occurred on 11 February 2026, the pilot and co-pilot of the remote aircraft died, allegedly due to being shot in the Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua Province. The 11 remote airports include Satpel Koroway Batu, Bomakia Airport, Satpel Yaniruma, Satpel Manggelum, Kapiraya Airstrip, Iwur Airstrip, Faowi Airstrip, Dagai Airstrip, Aboy Airstrip, Teraplu Airstrip, and Beoga Airstrip. In addition, there are five airports with controlled vulnerable situations but secured by TNI/Polri apparatus, allowing flight operations to proceed while monitoring local developments. The five airports include Kiwirok Airport, Moanamani Airport, Sinak Satpel in Ilaga, Agandugume Satpel in Ilaga, and Illu Airport.