Indonesian Military Recovers Body of American Pilot Killed by Papuan Separatists

Indonesian military forces announced they have recovered the body of American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin, who was reportedly killed by separatist insurgents in the eastern region of Papua. Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Organization, claimed responsibility for the attack. Sambom stated that their forces shot dead Gosselin after he landed at an airstrip in the Yahukimo regency of Highland Papua province, accusing the aircraft of transporting Indonesian military personnel into the area. "We are prepared to fire upon any civilian aircraft across the Land of Papua that assists Indonesian military forces in transporting troops or military logistics," he said, describing the attack as a "message" to the Indonesian and U.S. governments for their perceived failure to address the root causes of the conflict in Papua. Wirya Artadiguna, a military spokesperson in Papua, confirmed that Gosselin's body had been recovered and evacuated, and that the military was seeking those responsible. According to Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, there were no security concerns raised as Gosselin’s flight came in to land, but communications were lost shortly after it touched down. The aircraft was operated by PT AMA, whose planes carry food, fuel, and mail to remote villages in Papua. Papua has been home to a simmering separatist insurgency since the region was absorbed by Indonesia in 1969. The conflict has worsened considerably over the past decade, as the Indonesian state has extended infrastructure and transport links into the heart of highland Papua, prompting more damaging and sophisticated attacks by the TPNPB and other Papuan independence groups. The eastern portion of the region has become increasingly militarized since 2018. As of 2022, the U.N. reported that more than 100,000 people had been displaced by the escalating conflict. The TPNPB has a history of targeting aircraft servicing remote and isolated parts of the Papuan highlands. In February 2023, its soldiers attacked and destroyed an aircraft at an airport in Nduga, also in Highland Papua province, and kidnapped its New Zealand pilot, Philip Mehrtens, who was later released following talks with Indonesian authorities. Months prior to Mehrtens’ release, another New Zealander, helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot and killed by TPNPB soldiers shortly after landing in an isolated part of Central Papua province.