Jayapura (ANTARA) - The Peace Cartenz Task Force has deployed personnel to the Koroway Batu area in Boven Digoel District, South Papua, to maintain security following the killing of two Smart Air pilots in a suspected attack by an armed criminal group on Wednesday.
“There are no police officers assigned to the area. Hence, the Peace Cartenz Task Force decided to deploy its personnel to secure the area from armed criminal groups,” Brigadier General Faizal Rahmadani, the task force’s operations chief, told ANTARA here on Thursday.
He said task force officers arrived later on Wednesday after receiving reports of the incident at Koroway Batu Airport and have begun an investigation.
Rahmadani confirmed that the victims had been evacuated from the airport and transported to Mimika District, Central Papua.
He added that the Smart Air Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft came under fire upon landing. The pilot and first officer were killed after attempting to escape the attackers when they exited the aircraft.
The two crew members were identified as pilot Egon Erawan and first officer Baskoro, Papua Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito said.
All 13 passengers on board, including an infant, were unharmed.
Armed groups linked to the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) have frequently carried out hit-and-run attacks targeting security personnel and civilians, including construction workers, teachers, motorcycle taxi drivers, street vendors, and civilian aircraft.
In a separate high-profile case, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by an armed group led by Egianus Kogoya on February 7, 2023, in Nduga District, Highland Papua.
He was ambushed shortly after landing, held for more than a year, and released in September 2024.
