American pilot killed in Papua after plane set ablaze by rebel attack
An American pilot was shot dead by Papuan separatist rebels, his civilian plane set on fire after landing, and his body recovered by Indonesian forces.
An American pilot was killed in Indonesia's Papua region after his civilian plane was shot dead by Papuan separatist rebels and set on fire after landing in the Yahukimo area of Highland Papua province. Indonesian military forces recovered the pilot's body.
The rebels described the attack as a "message" to the United States and Indonesian governments.
Accounts differ on the spelling of the pilot's surname. Western sources identified him as Nicholas F. Gosselin, while other sources listed him as Nicholas F. Goselin. The Guardian reported the name as Nicholas F. Gosselin, and GDELT reported it as Nicholas F. Goselin.
According to GDELT, the aircraft was a civilian plane operated by PT AMA, an Indonesian airline, and was carrying one pilot and seven passengers. Papua police's Cartenz Peace Task Force said they were still verifying the condition of the pilot and the seven passengers. GDELT also noted that the U.S. Embassy made no comment on the incident.
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