Indonesian Military Recovers Body of U.S. Pilot Killed by Papua Separatists

The Indonesian military released footage on Saturday showing the challenging recovery operation of American pilot Nicholas P. Goslin's body. Goslin was fatally shot on July 2 by armed separatists from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Papua Highlands, eastern Indonesia. The recovery team, consisting of ten special forces soldiers, operated under harsh weather and terrain conditions, accessing the remote crash site only by helicopter.

Goslin was piloting a civilian plane operated by Indonesian private airline PT AMA, which took off at 6:30 a.m. local time from Wamena Airport with seven local passengers aboard. The aircraft landed as scheduled at Linggamah airstrip in Jayawijaya district at 6:46 a.m. After reporting a safe landing, communication was abruptly lost. Separatist militants opened fire on the plane, killing Goslin and setting the aircraft on fire. All seven passengers, including women, escaped unharmed.

The TPNPB claimed responsibility, releasing a video showing armed fighters with the Morning Star flag, symbolizing their independence movement. Spokesman Sabi Sambom stated the attack was a political message to the governments of Indonesia, the U.S., the Netherlands, and the UN, accusing them of failing to resolve the 64-year conflict. He also alleged the plane was regularly used to transport Indonesian military personnel and warned of further attacks on civilian aircraft used for military purposes.

The Indonesian military strongly denied these claims, affirming the plane was not used for military activities and all passengers were innocent civilians. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and violence in the Papua region, where separatist groups continue to challenge Indonesian sovereignty.