AMA PK-RCY Pioneer Aircraft Burned by KKB, Pilot Allegedly Killed

JAKARTA - The AMA PK-RCY pioneer plane with registration PK-RCY caught fire at Balinggama Airport, Papua Mountains, on Thursday, July 2, 2026. The Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force suspects that the plane was set on fire by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB).

Head of Public Relations and Peace Operations, Inspector General of Police, Yusuf Sutejo, said the allegation arose because it was unlikely that civilians would attack the only means of transportation that was the link between the Balinggama community and other areas.

"It is suspected. Because if ordinary civilians, it seems impossible that they will attack the only means of transportation that can connect the community in Balinggama to the outside world," Yusuf told reporters, Thursday, July 2, 2026.

According to Yusuf, air transportation is a vital access for the people in the region considering the geographical conditions of Papua which are difficult to reach through land routes.

However, he emphasized that the allegations still needed to be proven through further investigations.

"We can't be sure because we haven't visited the crime scene, haven't processed the crime scene, haven't collected the existing information and evidence," he said.

The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force has mapped the situation at the location and prepared the evacuation steps. The team is scheduled to head to Balinggama on Friday, July 3, 2026 to conduct a crime scene (TKP) and collect information from witnesses.

Yusuf said that about three platoons of personnel would be deployed in the operation.

"The troops will move from Wamena as the main post, with the support of personnel from Timika and Yahukimo," he concluded.

The pioneering PK-RCY aircraft belonging to PT AMA was previously reported to have taken off from Wamena Airport on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 06.30 WIT and landed at Balinggama Airport at around 06.46 WIT. The plane was carrying seven passengers and one pilot.

After the pilot reported the plane had landed, communication with the airfield post was lost. The plane's pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, was reported dead.