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Indonesian Charter Plane Burned in Yahukimo; Foreign Pilot Dies
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Indonesian Charter Plane Burned in Yahukimo; Foreign Pilot Dies

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A charter plane operated by PT AMA, registration PK-RCY, was burned at Ipdeheik Airport in Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan, Indonesia.
  • The flight, originating from Wamena, carried one pilot and seven passengers, with the pilot reportedly being a foreign national.
  • The pilot, identified as Nicholas F. Goselin, died in the incident, and authorities are investigating the exact cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the burning of the aircraft.

A charter plane belonging to PT AMA, identified by registration PK-RCY, was set ablaze at Ipdeheik Airport in Balinggama, Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan, Indonesia. The aircraft had departed from Wamena Airport on Thursday morning carrying one pilot and seven passengers.

Based on initial information received from the Class I Airport Authority Unit (UPBU) Wamena, the plane departed from Wamena Airport at 06:30 WIT carrying 1 pilot and 7 passengers.

— Lukman F. LaisaProviding initial details about the flight's departure and passenger count.

According to Lukman F. Laisa, Director General of Air Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, the plane arrived at Balinggama's airfield at 06:46 WIT. Initial reports indicate that the weather conditions along the flight path were good prior to departure. However, communication from the airport's control post reportedly ceased after the pilot confirmed the aircraft had landed.

Before the flight was carried out, the weather information on the flight route was reported to be in good condition.

— Lukman F. LaisaConfirming favorable weather conditions before the flight.

The pilot, identified as Nicholas F. Goselin, a foreign national, was reported to have died in the incident. The precise cause of his death is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities. PT AMA, in conjunction with the Wamena Airport Authority and other related agencies, is actively working to verify the sequence of events and establish all the facts on the ground.

After the pilot reported that the plane had landed, communication from the post area at the airport was reported to be cut off.

— Lukman F. LaisaDescribing the loss of communication after the plane's landing.

The burning of the aircraft was confirmed by Kombes Yusuf Sutejo, Head of the Public Relations Task Force for Operation Damai Cartenz-2026. While the exact circumstances leading to the fire remain unclear, the incident is being treated with seriousness by aviation and security officials. The investigation aims to determine the cause of the pilot's death and the reasons behind the aircraft's destruction.

Initial reports from the Head of UPBU Class I Wamena stated that the pilot of the aircraft, Nicholas F. Goselin, was reported dead.

— Lukman F. LaisaConfirming the reported death of the pilot.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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