Papua separatists kill American pilot in ‘message’ to US and Indonesia

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/02/papua-separatists-kill-american-pilot-yahukimo

Rebels shoot pilot and set his civilian ⁠plane on fire amid long-running low-level battle for independence in region

Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive easternmost region of Papua have shot dead an American pilot and set a civilian ⁠plane on fire, in what a spokesperson for a local militant group described as a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments.

Sebby Sambom, ⁠a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), named the pilot as Nicholas F Gosselin and said separatist fighters had set his ⁠plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province.

He said the aircraft had been “frequently dropping Indonesian military personnel and ‌violating the TPNPB’s ultimatum”.

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