Papua rebels in Indonesia claimed they have killed an American pilot and burned the plane he was flying to send a warning to the Indonesian government. The fate of the seven passengers remains undisclosed.
On 2 Dec 2026, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) announced they had killed American pilot Enicolas F. Gosserlang after he landed his plane in Papua Highlands Province last Thursday. The rebels claimed the man was transporting Indonesian military forces into the area, and his death was intended as a warning message.
In a statement, TPNPB spokesman Sebby Sambom said the group had banned all flights over the disputed region because civilian planes were being used to support Indonesian military operations.
“We immediately opened fire and set the plane on fire because it violated TPNPB's ultimatum,” he said. “We are ready to shoot down any civilian aircraft across Papua that assists Indonesian troops in transporting personnel or military supplies.”
Sambom added that if Indonesian authorities want to recover the pilot's body, they must do so without bringing military or police forces into the area. He also called on the Indonesian government to open negotiations to resolve the conflict, which began in 1969.
Indonesian authorities confirmed that Gosserlang’s plane was found burned and destroyed but stated it is still unclear what happened to him or the seven other passengers onboard.
This killing occurs amid a long-standing conflict between the Indonesian government and indigenous ethnic groups in West Papua seeking independence for the resource-rich region.
Indonesian officials revealed that a plane with the American pilot and seven passengers was found burned at an airport in the Yahukimo region.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s civil aviation authority reported no safety concerns during the plane’s approach, but communication was lost shortly after it touched down on the runway.
The civil aviation office further stated that initial reports from the departure airport director indicated the pilot was dead.
Yusuf Sutejo, spokesman for Indonesia’s joint police-military task force, said they cannot yet confirm whether the plane was attacked by rebels or what happened to those onboard.
This is not the first time TPNPB has attacked civilian aircraft. In 2024, a New Zealand pilot was freed after being held hostage by rebels for 19 months, following lengthy negotiations between Indonesian and New Zealand officials.
However, just a month earlier, TPNPB gunmen killed another New Zealand citizen, helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning, who was shot shortly after landing in a remote village.
Source:bbc