11.02.2026 17:32
A passenger plane was attacked in the South Papua region of Indonesia. The attack occurred just after landing, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot. The 13 passengers on board experienced great panic, evacuated the plane, and fled into the forest.
The pilot and co-pilot of a passenger plane in Indonesia were shot dead shortly after landing at the airport. During the terrifying incident, passengers fled the aircraft to escape into the forest.
The Smart Air plane landed smoothly at Korowai Batu Airport in South Papua, Indonesia, on Wednesday. However, while the plane was on the runway, unidentified armed individuals launched an attack.
Upon hearing gunfire, the 13 passengers on board – including a small child – experienced great panic. The passengers evacuated the plane and fled to the nearby forested area of the airport.
The pilot sent an emergency distress call via GPS during the attack. The message indicated that the crew was under fire and was trying to escape to safety with the passengers. In the pilot's last message to authorities, he stated, "No signal, please locate us. We are under fire in Korowai."
However, the pilot and co-pilot were captured by the attackers before reaching a safe location. According to local police officials, the two pilots were forcibly taken from the forest and brought back to the airport, where they were shot and killed on the runway. Police announced that both pilots died at the scene.
It is still unknown who carried out the attack. Security forces have launched a large-scale investigation to identify the individuals or groups behind the incident. The Papua Regional Police announced that the deceased pilots were Captain Egon Erawan and Co-Pilot Captain Bas Koro.
Authorities confirmed that all 13 passengers on the plane during the attack survived. After the incident, the aircraft was left on the runway. Shared images showed the plane's doors open, windows broken, and numerous bullet marks on its fuselage. It was also reported that the aircraft's fuel tank was damaged due to the attack, causing fuel to leak onto the runway.
Officials from the Indonesian House of Representatives reacted strongly to the incident. Commission I Vice Chairman Dave Laksono described the events as "an unacceptable humanitarian tragedy," emphasizing that the state is responsible for protecting civilians and flight crews.
Laksono called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to find the attackers and bring them to justice. The Indonesian police also announced that security measures at airports in the interior regions would be increased to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
This chilling event came to light shortly after another aviation accident that occurred in Somalia. A passenger plane carrying 55 people crashed into the Indian Ocean shortly after takeoff, but all passengers and crew on board survived the accident.
Authorities reported that detailed investigations are ongoing for both incidents.