JAKARTA, Indonesia — Dramatic footage released by Indonesian military forces shows heavily armed troops conducting a high-risk recovery operation to retrieve the body of an American pilot gunned down by separatist rebels in a remote corner of Papua.
The video, captured on a soldier’s body camera during a special tactical operation by Indonesia’s TNI Habema task force, shows troops moving swiftly across rugged, rocky terrain near the Ipdeheik airstrip in Balinggama village, Yahukimo regency, Highland Papua province. Soldiers in full combat gear advance with weapons ready, secure the area, and carefully extract the body of the slain pilot before loading it onto a waiting helicopter for evacuation.
The pilot was identified as Nicholas F. Goselin, 29, a civilian aviator from Connecticut with years of experience flying bush routes in remote Alaska.
According to reports, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Goselin was piloting a small Pilatus PC-6 Turbo-Porter aircraft operated by Indonesian company PT AMA. He had just landed at the remote airstrip carrying passengers and supplies when armed members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) opened fire. The rebels killed Goselin and then set the aircraft ablaze. All seven indigenous Papuan passengers on board survived the attack.
The separatist group claimed responsibility, stating the flight had violated their ultimatum banning aircraft from operating in areas they consider their operational zones. Indonesian authorities described the attackers as armed separatists and condemned the killing of a civilian pilot providing essential transport services to remote communities.
Goselin was no stranger to challenging flying conditions. He previously worked as a bush pilot in Alaska, logging thousands of hours on demanding routes serving isolated communities in places like Bethel, King Salmon, and Dutch Harbor. He later brought that same expertise to Indonesia’s Papua region, flying pioneer routes for PT AMA that delivered food, fuel, mail, and passengers to hard-to-reach villages.
In many ways, Goselin was continuing a life of service, using his skills as a pilot to connect remote populations with vital resources in another country.
Indonesian forces launched a swift “special rapid seizure operation” to recover Goselin’s body the following day. The bodycam footage provides a stark, up-close look at the dangers faced by the troops as they operated in hostile terrain to bring the American pilot’s remains home.
The video shows the intensity of the mission: soldiers coordinating under pressure, maneuvering around the airstrip area, and ensuring the safe extraction of the body amid the remote mountainous landscape.
Goselin’s death comes just days before the United States marks its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, a celebration of American independence, resilience, and the enduring spirit of service that defines the nation.
Tragically, Nicholas Goselin did not live to see America’s 250th birthday. Instead of marking the occasion with family and fellow Americans back home, this young pilot was cut down while selflessly aiding another country by keeping vital supply lines open to remote villages in Papua.
His story is a stark reminder of the risks faced by civilians who take on dangerous work in unstable regions, and of the violent reality of separatist conflicts that continue to claim innocent lives.
Indonesian authorities have vowed to pursue those responsible for the attack. As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its quarter-millennium milestone, the loss of one of its citizens in such a senseless act of violence casts a somber shadow.
Rest in peace, Captain Nicholas F. Goselin. Your service to remote communities — first in Alaska and then abroad, will not be forgotten.
