American Pilot Killed by Papua Separatists in Defiant Act
WHO:
AP News - The American pilot killed was identified as Nicholas F. Goselin.
AP News - The West Papua Liberation Army, or TPNPB, is the separatist group that claimed responsibility for the shooting.
The Guardian - Sebby Sambom is a spokesperson for the TPNPB.
The Guardian - Yusuf Sutejo is a spokesperson for Indonesia’s joint police-military operations in Papua.
WHAT:
AP News - The TPNPB claimed to have shot dead Nicholas F. Goselin and set fire to an aircraft operated by PT AMA.
The Guardian - The aircraft was carrying one pilot and seven passengers, all of whom were indigenous Papuans and unharmed.
The Guardian - The plane was found burned at an airport in Yahukimo.
WHERE:
AP News - The incident occurred in Balinggama village, Papua.
The Guardian - The aircraft was located in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province.
WHEN:
AP News - The TPNPB claimed the shooting occurred on a Thursday.
AP News - An evacuation team attempted to reach the site on Thursday but turned back due to poor weather.
The Guardian - The aircraft had flown to Yahukimo from Wamena.
WHY:
AP News - The TPNPB alleged that the aircraft violated their ban on civilian flights in areas they consider operational zones.
The Guardian - Sebby Sambom stated the attack was a message to the Indonesian and US governments for failing to address the root causes of the conflict in Papua.
HOW:
AP News - The TPNPB claimed the pilot was killed because the aircraft continued operating despite warnings.
The Guardian - Rebels carried guns and axes and raised the Morning Star flag while announcing the attack.
(UPDATED July 2, 2026 19:32 UTC)
In a tragic incident in Balinggama village, Papua, the West Papua Liberation Army, or TPNPB, has claimed responsibility for the shooting death of pilot Nicholas F. Goselin and the subsequent burning of an aircraft operated by PT AMA. The plane, which was carrying one pilot and seven indigenous Papuan passengers who were unharmed, was found charred at an airport in the Yahukimo region after the TPNPB alleged that it violated their ban on civilian flights in their operational zones. TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom stated that the attack serves as a message to the Indonesian and US governments regarding their failure to address the underlying issues of the conflict in Papua.