Indonesian Rebels Claim Responsibility for Burning Plane, Killing US Pilot in Papua

An American pilot and seven passengers are missing after a civilian aircraft disappeared following its landing in Indonesia's volatile Papua region. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has claimed responsibility for the incident, stating they killed the pilot and set the plane ablaze.

TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom announced that the pilot, identified as Nicholas F Gosselin, was killed and the aircraft was torched after landing in the Yahukimo area of Highland Papua. Sambom alleged that the plane "frequently transported Indonesian military personnel" and violated the TPNPB's prior ultimatum. He described the attack as a "signal" to the United States and Indonesian governments.

Indonesian police confirmed that a burned aircraft was found at an airport in Yahukimo. A spokesperson for the joint military and police task force in Papua stated that the plane carried one American pilot and seven passengers, all of whom were reportedly local Papuans. The spokesperson could not immediately confirm if the plane was attacked by rebels or if the pilot was deceased.

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This is a message to the Indonesian and American governments. We are the ones who killed the pilot and burned the plane.

Sambom further asserted that the attack was a message condemning the governments' failure to address the root causes of the conflict between Indonesian forces and the TPNPB. He warned that the rebels would launch further attacks if Indonesia continued to permit civilian aircraft into rebel-controlled "red zones" in Papua.

The aircraft belonged to PT AMA, an airline that typically transports food, fuel, and mail to remote villages in Papua. The airline has not yet issued a statement. The US Embassy in Jakarta has not immediately responded to requests for comment.

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If Indonesia continues to allow civilian aircraft to enter the red zone controlled by the TPNPB in Papua, we will start attacking.