The American pilot was shot dead on the island of Papua, Indonesia! The passenger plane was burnt

US pilot targeted by separatists in Indonesia’s restive island of Papua. Besides burning the plane, Pyle was shot dead. This information was made public by the Indonesian military on Friday. The dead pilot’s body was recovered by the army. It is known that the rebels attacked the American plane after landing on that island. The remaining passengers of the plane have not been found yet.

A statement issued by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPPNB), a Papuan armed group claiming responsibility for the attack, said the group’s spokesman Sebi Sambam said on Thursday that the plane had landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province. Due to which their members set the plane on fire. American pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin was also shot down. This attack is claimed to be their message to the government of America and Indonesia.

The rebels there have been fighting for a long time to make the island of Papua, rich in minerals and natural resources, independent from Indonesia. In recent times, these attacks have become more serious.

The rebels there have been fighting for a long time to make the island of Papua, rich in minerals and natural resources, independent from Indonesia. In recent times, these attacks have become more serious. Sebi, the spokesperson of the organization, also said that the plane was working to deliver the Indonesian army to different places. Besides, TPNPB’s warnings were being violated. More such attacks will be carried out unless Indonesian civilian aircraft are stopped from entering Papua’s red zone.

Wiria Artadiguna, the military spokesman assigned to Papua, acknowledged the attack. He said, the body of the American pilot has been recovered. There were 7 passengers in the plane. They are all from Papua. They have not been found yet. A search for the attackers has been launched. Passengers are also being searched. The US Embassy in Jakarta has yet to comment on the issue. It is known that the affected plane belongs to an airline called PT AMA. Their planes carry food, fuel and letters to the remote villages of Papua.

Note that this type of attack is not the first time in Papua. In February 2023, rebels here kidnapped New Zealand pilot Philip Mertens. He was taken hostage after a small commercial plane landed in Uduga, a remote mountainous area of ​​Papua. After a year and a half, the pilot was released in September 2024.