TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) will be adding defense personnel in several vulnerable areas in Papua. The increase in the number of troops comes in the wake of the shooting of a pilot and the burning of an AMA airline aircraft in Balinggaman, Sobaham District, Yahukimo, Papua on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
The Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command III, Lieutenant General Lucky Avianto, stated that security posts in the area are currently limited, including at the site of the shooting incident. He said, "It's true that there is no security post in Balinggaman, where the shooting of pilot Nicholas Gosselin took place," as reported by Antara on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
According to Lucky, the nearest security post from the location of the incident is about 40 kilometers away, in mountainous terrain. Lucky mentioned that the situation is similar to the attack on the Smart Air aircraft at the Korowai Airport in Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua on February 12, which resulted in the deaths of two crew members.
Based on this, Lucky stated that TNI will evaluate which areas require additional security posts, especially in regions that serve as pioneer flight services. He said that they will coordinate with Bishop Yanuarius You of Jayapura. "Perhaps we can collaborate to identify the areas that require additional security posts and reinforcement of personnel," he said.
Prior to this, American pilot Nicholas F. Goselin was shot dead by the West Papuan National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement or TPNPB-OPM. Nicholas was shot while flying the PT AMA aircraft in the Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
The spokesperson for the TPNPB headquarters, Sebby Sambom, stated that the shooting of the American pilot and the burning were carried out by the TPNPB Kodap XVI Yahukimo militia led by Elkius Kobak. The aircraft piloted by Nicholas was executed due to suspicion of transporting logistical support for the TNI forces in Papua.
"We shot as an ultimatum so that no more Indonesian airlines fly over Papua land," said Sambom in a written statement on Friday, July 3, 2026.
He explained that 36 defense regional commands (Kodap) of TPNPB have issued flying bans in their respective areas to all airlines operating in Papua. This ban is an anticipation by TPNPB against the arrival of non-organic TNI troops in Papua.
According to Sambom, Indonesian airlines that operate in Papua, including the PT AMA aircraft that was burned in Yahukimo, are often used to transport personnel or logistics for TNI to remote points in Papua. "They bring TNI, deliver logistics, and weapons to carry out military operations that oppress the Papuan people. We prohibit that," he said.
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