JAKARTA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian authorities recovered and evacuated the body of a U.S. pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, who was killed in a suspected attack in which his aircraft was set ablaze in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua, the military said Friday.
The incident reportedly occurred in a village in Yahukimo regency of Highland Papua province on Thursday.
According to a military spokesperson in Papua, the attack and the burning of the aircraft were allegedly carried out by an armed separatist group.
The aircraft is owned by airline operator PT AMA, whose planes carry food, fuel, and mail to remote villages in Papua, according to its website.
The military said pursuit operations were ongoing and security has been tightened around the area to prevent further attacks.
Authorities have not disclosed the number of suspects, the weapons used, or the condition of the passengers previously reported to have been on board. ■