An American pilot named Nicholas F. Gosselin was killed when separatist fighters attacked his small plane in Papua, Indonesia, on 2 July. The plane, owned by Indonesian company PT Associated Mission Aviation, landed in Balinggama village carrying Gosselin and seven Papuan passengers. After the landing, the attackers shot the pilot, let the passengers go unharmed, and burned the plane.

The separatist group called the West Papua National Liberation Army said they attacked the plane as a message to the Indonesian and US governments. They claimed that civilian planes were used to transport Indonesian military supplies into their area.

Because of the difficult mountains and thick forest, Indonesian security forces needed a helicopter to recover Gosselin’s body from the airstrip. This event has caused more worry about the safety of people travelling by plane in Papua’s remote highlands.