Jayapura, Indonesia \u2013 The Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz 2026 has confirmed that Captain Nicholas F. Goselin (29), a United States citizen and pilot for Associated Mission Aviation (PT AMA), died from a gunshot wound during the fatal attack and arson involving a Pilatus PK-RCY aircraft at Balinggama Airstrip in Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The victim’s body was flown from Timika at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT) aboard a Boeing 737 (AI-7304) and arrived in Jayapura at approximately 5:30 p.m. WIT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The arrival was attended by the Head of Peace Operation Cartenz 2026, Inspector General of Police Dr. Faizal Ramadhani, Papua Deputy Regional Police Chief Brigadier General of Police Muhajir, Deputy Head of Peace Operation Cartenz 2026 Chief Commissioner of Police Adarma Sinaga, along with senior Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), and other government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon arrival in Jayapura, a prayer service was led by Bishop Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You before a final tribute ceremony was held. The body was then transferred to Bhayangkara Regional Police Hospital in Jayapura, where a forensic examination was conducted by a forensic pathology team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At approximately 11:55 p.m. WIT, following the completion of the examination, the victim’s body was formally handed over to representatives of PT AMA. A press conference was subsequently held at Bhayangkara Regional Police Hospital on Friday (July 3), featuring the Head Of Public Relation of Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz 2026, Chief Commissioner of Police Yusuf Sutejo, Bhayangkara Hospital Director Chief Commissioner of Police Dr. Rommy Sebastian, and the Head of the Law Enforcement Task Force, Chief Commissioner of Police I. G. G. Era Adinata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the briefing, the Head Of Public Relation expressed condolences over the death of the American pilot, noting that PT AMA has long supported humanitarian and religious aviation services in remote areas of Papua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“On behalf of Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz 2026, we extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, PT AMA, and everyone affected by this tragic incident,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained that investigators carried out a forensic examination to scientifically establish the cause of death and support the ongoing criminal investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Earlier today, the victim’s body was successfully evacuated by the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Tonight, we conducted one of the legal procedures in the investigation through a forensic examination. An autopsy was not considered necessary because the cause of death could already be established through an external examination supported by radiological imaging,” he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Bhayangkara Hospital Director Chief Commissioner of Police Dr. Rommy Sebastian, the forensic examination documented multiple injuries, including open wounds to the head, forehead, left cheek, and the area around the right ear, abrasions on the right side of the head, fractures to both sides of the upper jaw, and a fracture of the right lower jaw caused by blunt-force trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The examination also identified an open wound on the left cheek consistent with a contact gunshot wound, indicating that the firearm’s muzzle was pressed directly against the victim’s skin when the shot was fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bullet entered through the left cheek and exited near the right ear, causing severe fractures to the facial bones. Radiological imaging further revealed fractures at the base of the skull. According to the forensic team, the gunshot trajectory caused catastrophic damage to the skull base, resulting in rapid fatal injuries and sudden death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the Head of the Law Enforcement Task Force, Chief Commissioner of Police I. G. G. Era Adinata, said investigators immediately launched an extensive investigation following the attack, including witness interviews, intelligence gathering, information analysis, and social media monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on preliminary findings, investigators believe the attack was carried out by the Bakusip Armed Criminal Group (KKB), a newly identified armed group led by M. Mbalingga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to investigators, Mbalingga has claimed affiliation with a faction led by Elkius Kobak operating in Yahukimo. Authorities are still examining the relationship between the Bakusip group and the Kobak network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Shortly after the incident, M. Mbalingga publicly claimed responsibility for the attack. Soon afterward, Elkius Kobak issued a similar statement. We have also obtained photographs showing an individual standing on top of the burned PT AMA aircraft, and our identification confirms that the individual is M. Mbalingga,” the task force official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Investigators described the Bakusip group as a relatively new armed faction whose weapons and organizational structure remain under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding the motive, authorities said the group had previously issued threats against aircraft operating in areas it claims as its territory. However, investigators emphasized that the exact motive remains under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to allegations circulating on social media suggesting that PT AMA had been involved in activities beyond humanitarian operations, the Head Of Public Relation firmly rejected the claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the task force had communicated directly with PT AMA management and the Bishop of Jayapura, who oversees the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Based on the information we have received, PT AMA has provided humanitarian and religious aviation services in Papua for 67 years. This is the first time the organization has experienced such a tragic incident,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that PT AMA’s operations have been dedicated exclusively to serving churches and remote communities throughout Papua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz 2026 reaffirmed that investigators will continue conducting a professional and comprehensive investigation to identify all individuals responsible, determine the motive behind the deadly attack, and ensure legal accountability in a case that has attracted both national and international attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jayapura, Indonesia \u2013 The Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz 2026 has confirmed that Captain Nicholas F. Goselin (29), a United States citizen and pilot for Associated Mission Aviation (PT AMA), died from a gunshot wound during the fatal attack and arson involving a Pilatus PK-RCY aircraft at Balinggama Airstrip in Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":38516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5489],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-berita-utama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38518"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38519,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38518\/revisions\/38519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/suaranewspapua.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}