A U.S. pilot has been shot dead by a separatist group in Indonesia’s West Papua after a small plane operated by an Indonesian airline landed in the country’s Yahukimo region in the Highland Papua province.
U.S. pilot Nicholas F. Gosselin and seven passengers were onboard the Indonesian airline PT AMA as the pilot allegedly helped transport Indonesian troops into the restive province.
After the shooting the aircraft was also set afire by the separatist group.
Officials said the seven passengers, including three women, who were on board were Papuans, and were unharmed.
An evacuation team attempted to reach the site on July 2 but turned back because of poor weather, Papuan military spokesman Lt. Col. Wirya Artadiguna said….