In Indonesia’s Papua region, separatist rebels have killed an American pilot and burned a civilian aircraft, marking a stark warning aimed at both the United States and the Indonesian authorities, according to a spokesperson. On Thursday, members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) shot Nicholas F. Gosselin while he was landing in Papua’s Highlands province and subsequently set his plane ablaze. The group claimed that this attack served as a “message,” as they believed civilian pilots were aiding Indonesian military personnel in the area.
Spokesman Sebi Sanbom noted that they opened fire and burned the plane due to an alleged violation of an ultimatum issued by TPNPB, who had prohibited flights in their territory. He emphasized their readiness to target any civilian aircraft that supported military operations throughout Papua.
A police-military operations spokesperson reported that a burned aircraft was identified in Papua’s Yahukimo region. Although he didn’t confirm the involvement of rebels or whether the pilot had died, he mentioned that all passengers were Indonesian Papuans. The TPNPB, claiming to represent the indigenous population of West Papua, pursues independence for this resource-rich area and has recently enhanced their weapon capabilities, leading to more frequent and deadly confrontations.
Sanbom conveyed that this assault was intended to underscore the failure of the U.S. and Indonesian governments to tackle the underlying issues fueling the conflict between the Indonesian military and the TPNPB. He warned of further assaults if civilian flights persisted in rebel-dominated regions of Papua.
According to reports, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has stated that initial assessments suggest the pilot was indeed killed. The Indonesian Ministry of Transport confirmed that the plane had just flown to Yahukimo from another location on the Papuan plateau, but communications were lost shortly after landing.
Footage released by the TPNPB depicted rebels brandishing weapons and threatening further actions, while also displaying the Morning Star flag, a symbol of their independence aspirations. The strife between West Papuan separatists and the Indonesian government has its roots in the 1960s, following Indonesia’s occupation of Papua post-Dutch colonial rule. Accusations of abuse and exploitation by Indonesian authorities have intensified calls for independence.
Past incidents include TPNPB factions reportedly attacking Kuala Kencana in 2020, resulting in the death of a New Zealand contractor. In February 2023, they kidnapped a New Zealand pilot and only released him in September 2024. Reports indicate that 43 individuals, primarily civilians, were killed by the group in the first half of 2025.
While the U.S. does not classify the TPNPB as a terrorist organization and is not actively engaged in combat against them, it collaborates with the Indonesian government to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. military sales to Indonesia were valued at $1.88 billion as of January 2025, and there have been ongoing discussions to enhance defense cooperation. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has not yet provided a response regarding the recent attack.
