Two pilots were fatally shot on the runway at a remote airport in South Papua, Indonesia, shortly after landing on February 11, 2026. All 13 passengers survived by escaping into the nearby forest.
The Smart Air plane arrived at Korowai Batu Airport in Boven Digoel just after 11:00 a.m. WIT, having departed Tanah Merah at 10:35 WIT. On board were 13 passengers, including a toddler, and the two crew members who were later killed.
Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito of the Papua Regional Police identified the victims as Captain Egon Erawan and Captain Bas Koro. When the gunmen began shooting, the pilots and passengers evacuated the aircraft and ran for safety.
Before reaching the forest, the pilots sent an emergency GPS alert. “There’s no signal, please track it. In Koroway we’re being shot at,” their final message read, according to police.
The attackers pursued the pilots into the forest, captured them, brought them back to the runway, and killed them there, according to Boven Digoel Police Chief AKBP Wisnu Perdana Putra. Both men died at the scene.
The pilots were executed on the runway, but all passengers survived. The aircraft was left on the airstrip, showing clear evidence of the attack.
The plane sustained extensive damage, including bullet holes in the fuselage, shattered windows, open doors, and a punctured fuel tank leaking aviation fuel onto the runway.
Indonesian security forces quickly moved to secure the area. Personnel from the Damai Cartenz 2026 Task Force arrived around 6:00 a.m. on February 12, 2026, to take control of the airport. Brigadier General Faizal Rahmadani led the operation.
The deployment included 20 Damai Cartenz members and 12 Air Force special forces personnel working to secure the strategic site. The airport is vital for accessing remote inland communities in South Papua.
Authorities suspect separatist armed groups were behind the attack, specifically the Cannibal Battalion and Red Ant Battalion led by Elkius Kobak in Yahukimo. A manhunt for the perpetrators is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, later claimed responsibility, alleging the airline “often carried Indonesian security forces throughout Papua,” a claim disputed by officials and the airline.
The bodies of the two crew members were transported to Timika for identification and autopsy, then sent to Jakarta for release to their families. Captain Erawan’s remains were received by his family in East Ciputat, South Tangerang, on the afternoon of February 12.
The attack also affected local residents, with thirty-nine people fleeing to Senggo in fear. Security personnel worked to stabilize the situation so residents could return home.
The incident took place in Danowage Village, Kombai District, a remote area accessible mainly by air. Papua continues to face security challenges due to separatist activity across its mountainous regions.
Small aircraft remain essential for transporting passengers, medical supplies, and goods to isolated communities. The Cessna 208 Caravan involved in the attack is widely used in Papua for its reliability and ability to operate on short, rough airstrips.
The attack marks a serious escalation in violence targeting civilian aviation. While aircraft have been shot at before, the intentional killing of flight crew represents a particularly deadly development. Aviation personnel are especially vulnerable when serving conflict-affected areas.
Indonesian officials said security at inland airports would be increased. However, the challenge lies in safeguarding numerous small airstrips across Papua’s vast, rugged terrain, where government reach is limited and insurgent groups move easily.
Regional security in Papua remains complex, as separatist groups have operated there for decades. Task forces continue working to protect civilians, though geography and local support for independence movements hinder their efforts.
Aviation experts stress that civilian aircraft must never be targeted under international humanitarian law. Attacking unarmed pilots who had already escaped their aircraft constitutes a severe violation of these principles.
The incident underscores the dangers faced by pilots and crew serving isolated communities in conflict zones. The deaths of Captains Erawan and Koro represent the loss of experienced professionals dedicated to supporting Papua’s remote regions.
Smart Air, like other operators serving Papua’s remote areas, must now review flight security procedures. The airline faces difficult choices about continuing service to high-risk airports without compromising crew safety, while recognizing that halting flights would isolate dependent communities.
The investigation is ongoing as security units work to locate those responsible. The Damai Cartenz 2026 Task Force remains in the area to restore order and support resumption of operations at Korowai Batu Airport. Whether this event will lead to long-term changes in aviation security managed in Papua’s interior is still uncertain, as authorities balance safety with the essential need for air access.
