Jakarta - Indonesia's National Military (TNI) through the Habema Joint Operations Command in Papua on Friday, 3 July 2026 has successfully evacuated the body of aircraft pilot who died after landing at Balinggama, in Papua Highland a day earlier, while the Free Papua Movement's military wing TPNPB claimed responsible for the death and warned the dropping of Indonesian military and police personnel on Papua soils.
Captain Nicholas "Nick" Gosselin, a US citizen, according to Spokesperson of TNI's Habema Joint Operations Command Lt. Col. Wirya Arthadiguna, was shot to die by gunmen and the aircraft was burnt, confirming information spread on social media earlier.
(Captain Nicholas "Nick" Gosselin who was shot to die in Yakuhimo, Papua Highland (Photo/file/AMA))
"The Habema Joint Operations Command successfully evacuated the remain of AMA Air's PK-RCY pilot, Captain Nicholas F. Gosselin. In the same time, patrol team from the Habema Joint Operations Command have been combing and hunting the perpetrators who shot the pilot as well as burnt the aircraft at Ipdeheik Airport at Balinggama Hamlet," the military spokesman said told Asia Globe on Friday, 3 July 2026.
Balinggama Hamlet is situated in Yakuhimo Regency in Papua Highland Province.
The evacuation of the body was using two Caracal helicopters with 10 military personnel involved in with super tight security and fast move as the TPNPB-OPM has sent a warning publicly against military evacuation.
From Yakuhimo, the body was taken to Timid and handed over to responsible authorities.
(Burnt aircraft belongs to IMA Airline Services is at the location in Yakuhimo, Indonesia's Papua Highland on Friday, 3 July 2026 when Indonesia's military personnel evacuate the body of its pilot (Photo/the Habema Joint Operations Command))
On Thursday evening, TPNPB-OPM Commander-in-Chief General Goliath Tabuni in a written statement, sending to the Asia Globe claimed responsible for the incident that was conducted by soldiers from Regional XVI Yahukimo, led by Brig. Gen. Elkius Kobak.
