Indonesian Military Pursues Group After Pilot Shot, Plane Burned in Papua

The Indonesian military has deployed troops from the Operational Command for Maximum Success (Koops Habema) to hunt down a West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) group suspected of shooting a pilot and burning a plane in Yahukimo, Papua Pegunungan. According to the head of information for Koops Habema, Lt. Col. Wirya Arthadiguna, intelligence suggests the attack on the pilot and the aircraft at Balinggama Airport was carried out by the TPNPB group led by Elkius Kobak. "The Koops Habema patrol team immediately conducted sweeps and pursued the perpetrators to maintain security and support law enforcement processes," Wirya stated in a written release on Friday, July 3, 2026. The pilot's body has been evacuated to Timika and will be handed over to the authorities for further handling. The TPNPB-OPM previously claimed responsibility for the incident, with spokesperson Sebby Sambom identifying the pilot as Nicholas F. Goselin and stating the attack was carried out by TPNPB militia from Kodap XVI Yahukimo, led by Elkius Kobak. "We shot [him] as an ultimatum so that no more Indonesian airlines fly in Papua," Sambom said. He explained that 36 TPNPB regional defense commands have issued flight bans to all airlines operating in Papua. This measure is a preemptive step against the deployment of non-organic TNI soldiers to Papua. Sambom asserted that Indonesian airlines, including the PT AMA plane burned in Yahukimo, are frequently used to transport TNI personnel or logistics to remote areas of Papua for military operations that harm the Papuan people. "They transport TNI, send logistics and weapons to carry out military operations that cause suffering to the Papuan people. We forbid that," he stated. Sambom also reiterated that the TPNPB has repeatedly warned about areas they designate as war zones, calling it the Indonesian government's fault for allowing civilian aircraft into these zones. Since December 2024, the TPNPB has declared nine regencies in Papua as war zones, prohibiting civilian access. These areas include Nduga, Pegunungan Bintang, Puncak Jaya, Intan Jaya, Maybrat, Paniai, Dogiyai, Deiyai, and Yahukimo.