18-2-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesian police and military personnel are currently in pursuit of members of an armed Papuan group who opened fire on an aircraft belonging to Wings Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air group, according to a police officer.
Fortunately, all passengers on board the aircraft survived the incident, which took place at Nop Goliath Airport in Dekai Sub-district, Yahukimo District, Papua Highlands Province. Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri confirmed the details.
The aircraft’s left fuselage was penetrated by a bullet, and a fragment hit the neck of a passenger seated in row 19A, resulting in a minor injury. Inspector General Fakhiri provided this information during an interview with in Jayapura City on Saturday (February 17).
The attack occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time as the aircraft was approaching the runway for landing. Law enforcement agencies are currently engaged in a search operation to apprehend the armed assailants.
Inspector General Fakhiri, however, stated that he has not yet received reports regarding the specific armed group responsible for the assault on the passenger aircraft, which had traveled from Sentani Airport in Jayapura District to Yahukimo District. The Wings Air aircraft has since returned safely to Jayapura via Timika District.
Armed Papuan groups have frequently employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and carried out acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak, aiming to instill fear among the population.
These acts of terror have targeted construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and even civilian aircraft.
