The United States Embassy in Jakarta condemned the fatal attack on an American helicopter pilot in Papua, Indonesia, raising diplomatic pressure on local authorities to secure the region and prosecute those responsible. Glen Malcolm Conning, a helicopter pilot working for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, was killed on August 5, 2024, in Alama district, Mimika Regency, Central Papua province. According to the U.S. Embassy and local law enforcement statements, armed members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) carried out the attack after landing.
Diplomatic Condemnation and U.S. Response
U.S. officials expressed profound sorrow and strong condemnation following the confirmation of Conning’s death. According to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, American diplomats are closely monitoring the investigation being conducted by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The embassy urged Indonesian authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. State Department officials coordinated with local consular services to assist the victim’s family and manage repatriation protocols.
Incident Details in Central Papua
The attack occurred shortly after Conning landed an Intercontinental Tropical Aviation-managed helicopter in the isolated Alama district. According to reports from the Papuan Police, armed TPNPB insurgents approached the aircraft immediately after touchdown, targeting Conning and holding passengers—including local health workers—hostage before executing the pilot and setting fire to the helicopter. Regional security forces reported that adverse weather and difficult terrain significantly delayed the initial extraction and deployment of rescue teams to the remote jungle location.
Security and Regional Context
The killing highlights ongoing security risks for aviation and infrastructure workers operating in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces. According to conflict monitors and security assessments by the TNI, the TPNPB—the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM)—has increasingly targeted civilian aviation and infrastructure projects over recent years, asserting that such operations serve Indonesian state integration efforts. Indonesian security forces maintain an active heightened alert status across Mimika Regency and surrounding districts to deter further insurgent actions and protect civilian transport routes.
Investigation and Next Steps
Indonesian National Police spokesperson Inspector General Shandi Nugraha confirmed that joint police and military units deployed recovery teams to secure the Alama airstrip and evacuate the remaining passengers. Investigators gathered physical evidence and eyewitness testimony from surviving passengers to identify specific insurgents involved in the blockade and killing. Local civil authorities and diplomatic representatives continue to coordinate search, rescue, and security operations as the investigation into the armed group’s movements proceeds.