Two Catholic bishops in Papua condemned the killing of American mission pilot Capt. Nicholas Francis Goselin and the burning of an aircraft operated by Associated Mission Aviation (AMA), and said the attack threatened humanitarian work serving remote communities across the region.
Goselin was killed shortly after landing a Pilatus aircraft at Balinggalinggama Airstrip in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands in Indonesia on July 2. Armed assailants allegedly attacked the aircraft and later set it on fire. Eight Indigenous Papuan passengers survived.
The attack also raised concern because AMA, a humanitarian aviation organization owned by five Catholic dioceses in Papua, has spent 67 years transporting food, medicine, educational materials, church workers, and other supplies to communities that are difficult to reach by land. Church leaders warned that the loss of the aircraft could disrupt those services.
Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Merauke described the incident as a tragedy, saying the attack destroyed an aircraft serving remote communities and claimed the life of a pilot who had dedicated himself to helping the people of Papua.
“The AMA aircraft owned by the five dioceses in Papua was burned by the KKB. Even more heartbreaking, the pilot was killed. He came to serve the people of Papua through his work as a pilot. We strongly condemn this brutal act,” Archbishop Mandagi said.
Standing with priests, religious sisters and brothers, Mandagi said Papua needs peace rather than violence that continues to prolong suffering among its people. He also called on Catholics to pray for Goselin and his family, asking for strength and comfort during their loss.
The Indigenous prelate of Jayapura and commissioner of PT Associated Mission Aviation, Bishop Yanuarius Theofilus Matopai You also condemned the attack and called it an unprecedented act against the organization’s humanitarian mission.
Receiving Goselin’s remains at Sentani Air Base on July 3, Bishop Yanuarius said it was the first deliberate attack against AMA in the organization’s 67 years of serving communities across Papua.
“For decades, we have faced risks from weather and technical problems. However, a criminal act involving the burning of an aircraft and the murder of a pilot is extremely difficult to accept. It is a barbaric and inhumane act,” he said.
Since its establishment, AMA has provided humanitarian aviation services, transporting passengers, medical supplies, food, educational materials, and other goods to isolated communities.
The organization also supports the Catholic Church’s pastoral activities, healthcare programs, education services, and social missions throughout Papua.
Bishop Yanuarius rejected allegations circulating on social media that AMA aircraft had transported Indonesian military (TNI) personnel, police officers, members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), or ammunition.
He said AMA flights are dedicated solely to humanitarian purposes and are not connected to political interests or military operations. He added that AMA follows strict flight procedures and refuses requests related to military activities.
According to Bishop Yanuarius, AMA’s operations have long been supported through government pioneer aviation programs. Flights to Balinggalinggama were conducted regularly, usually once a week, and the organization had never previously received threats related to its operations in the area.
He also said the aircraft destroyed in the attack had been acquired through donations from church members and Catholic institutions. Its loss disrupted humanitarian services that have supported remote communities in Papua for decades.
AMA Director Bob Kayadu also expressed sorrow over Goselin’s death, saying it was the first time an AMA pilot had been deliberately killed in more than six decades of mission aviation in Papua.
“Aircraft accidents may happen, but burning an aircraft and murdering its pilot is utterly inhumane. This is a very deep wound for all of us,” Kayadu said.
Kayadu also rejected allegations that AMA supported military operations, emphasizing that the organization has never transported military equipment or weapons. He said all flights are documented through official manifests and that AMA remains committed to serving communities without discrimination.
AMA currently operates about 16 pilots serving remote areas across Papua. Goselin had served as a mission pilot in Papua for nearly three years before his death.
The group claiming responsibility for the attack said the aircraft had entered what it described as a “war zone” and alleged that AMA flights had supported Indonesian security forces. It said the attack was intended to draw international attention to its political demands for Papuan independence and encourage dialogue involving Indonesia, the Netherlands, the United States, and other parties.
The killing of an American citizen drew attention from the international aviation community and the U.S. government. It also renewed concern over the safety of humanitarian aviation in Papua, where mission aircraft remain a primary means of transportation for many isolated communities.
Alongside AMA, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a Protestant mission aviation organization, also provides air transportation and logistics to communities with limited road access across Papua.
The Yahukimo attack was the latest in a series of violent incidents involving civilian aviation in the region. In February 2026, armed attackers killed Smart Air pilot Egon Irawan and co-pilot Baskoro after their aircraft landed at Koroway Batu Airstrip in Boven Digoel Regency. Thirteen passengers survived and escaped into the nearby forest areas.
Security concerns over aviation in Papua also gained international attention in 2023 when a New Zealand pilot, Capt. Philip Mark Mehrtens of Susi Air, was taken hostage shortly after landing at Paro Airstrip in Nduga Regency.
He was held for approximately one and a half years before being released in September 2024 following negotiations involving customary leaders, church representatives, community members, and Indonesian security officials.
Church leaders and AMA officials said they hope the Yahukimo tragedy will help bring an end to violence, encourage dialogue, and ensure humanitarian aviation services can continue reaching Papua’s isolated communities.
