Small airstrips aren’t useful in the remote highlands and coastal plains of Papua. They are the only way to stay alive. Pioneer or “perintis” airports connect communities that are spread out over rough terrain where roads are few and rivers are the main feature of the landscape. They carry food, medicine, teachers, government workers, traders, and even hope itself between small towns and big cities.
On February 11, 2026, the weak feeling of safety that surrounded these lifelines was broken. Gunfire broke out at Koroway Airport in South Papua’s Boven Digoel Regency, hitting a Smart Air plane and killing both pilots. Armed separatists connected to TPNPB OPM are thought to have carried out the brutal attack. The event not only killed innocent people, but it also set off a chain reaction of worry about the safety of flying, the economy, and the strength of society in Papua.
The Indonesian government then made a hard and important choice. It told 11 high-risk pioneer airports in Papua to close for a short time. It was clear what the goal was: to protect civilian lives and stop more attacks on air transport infrastructure. But the effects were felt in communities in ways that showed how much these airports are a part of everyday life.
The Government’s Choice
A few days after the attack in Koroway, the Ministry of Transportation and local governments said that eleven remote airports in Papua that were thought to be at risk of similar security threats would not be able to operate flights for a short time. These airports were deemed to be at high risk because they are close to areas of conflict and don’t have a lot of security.
Some of the airports that were affected were small airstrips in regencies like Puncak, Intan Jaya, Nduga, and other districts in the highlands. At one time, each of these airports was an important link for people living nearby to the larger social and economic world.
The government stressed that the closure was only temporary and needed to make safety measures better. Officials promised to improve security measures, strengthen perimeter protection, and work with security forces to make sure that future operations could start up again without putting civilians at risk.
This choice was based on a balance between short-term security needs and long-term connectivity needs.
No Flights in Life
For people who lived in remote areas, the closures were more than just news. They were real things that started to happen very quickly.
The first morning flight had been a part of life in many highland villages. Families woke up knowing that on certain days, food, medicine, and visitors would come by plane. Traders set up deliveries, patients planned to leave for treatment, and teachers waited for more help.
The usual rhythm was thrown off when flights were grounded.
One mother in a highland community talked about how scared she was when the news came. Her family depended on weekly flights to get the things they needed. Now, the only ways to get around were by road and river, and those routes were slow and not always reliable.
“We used to see the small planes as a promise,” she said softly. “Now we wait and hope.”
The closure meant that small traders who sold rice, cooking oil, and other goods had to travel longer and pay more for transportation. Prices started to go up because goods moved more slowly by ground transport or river when flights weren’t reliable.
Kids who were excited about seeing distant relatives found out that the visits would be put off for an unknown amount of time.
The closure turned what had been a helpful support system into something that caused doubt.
Shocks to the Economy
The effects on local economies were immediate and clear.
In supply chains that relied on air travel, backups of inventory happened within days. Small stores in remote areas were running out of stock. It was harder to move perishable items like vegetables, dairy, and medicine quickly.
Traders who relied on getting goods from Jayapura or other big cities had to deal with rising costs and delays. Some people said that moving goods by land routes took longer and cost more than they could easily afford.
Local business owners, especially those who do business across regions, were upset. One trader said that the closures were bad for business and for the trust that outsiders had in Papua’s economic potential.
Tour operators who set up small-scale adventure and cultural tourism also felt the effects. Since pioneer airports were closed, their routes became hard to plan, and people had to cancel or move their reservations.
The Cost to Society
The airport closures had a big impact on social life in addition to the economy.
Families who lived far apart had fewer chances to get together and celebrate because there were no flights. Regular flight schedules used to make it easy for people to go to weddings, funerals, and family gatherings. Now, they have to travel by land, which takes a long time.
Getting access to health care became a major issue. Air ambulances are important for getting patients with serious conditions to better-equipped hospitals in cities from many remote areas. Families had to make tough choices about getting medical help quickly because flights were grounded.
Teachers and government workers who travel a lot for work were stuck or had to put off their return.
People in the community could feel the emotional weight of these changes at gatherings and in casual conversations.
Fear, Safety, and Trust in the Public
The main reason the government made the decision was to protect civilians. The shooting at Koroway Airport showed clearly that even parts of the aviation infrastructure that are part of everyday life can be targeted.
Authorities admitted that early airports were naturally weak because they had few security guards, weak perimeter defenses, and were often in remote areas. It would take time, money, and working with military and police units to make security stronger.
The closure sent a message that safety is the most important thing, but it also made people who rely on these air links nervous.
Some people in the community wondered if the closures were too much. They agreed that there was a threat, but they said that airports should be protected and supported, not closed, because rural lifelines would be pushed to the limit.
In response, officials stressed that the closure was only temporary and that plans were in place to make high-risk areas more secure. As part of the plan to reopen, more patrols, surveillance systems, and coordinated emergency response plans were suggested.
Response from the Government and the Community
After the closures, local governments held town hall meetings to talk about the problems that people had. Officials explained why they made the decision and talked about the security improvements they were planning.
Community leaders were asked to join in on talks about how to make people more resilient and deal with the problems with transportation.
At one meeting in the highlands, a regional minister said that the people there were having a hard time. He said that making sure people were safe and stopping more attacks were necessary for long-term growth.
“We know this is hard, but we have to save lives,” he told the people who had come together. “We’re doing everything we can to get flights back up and running as soon as it’s safe.”
There were also efforts to make transportation options more varied. Local governments looked into ways to make ground routes better, coordinate river transport for supply deliveries, and improve telemedicine services so that people didn’t have to rely on air travel for non-critical needs.
Bridging the Gap
The fact that 11 airports had to close showed how cut off many Papua communities are. It showed how much daily life depends on small planes.
People who support building infrastructure said that Papua’s transportation system was already weak before the attack. During the rainy season, roads often stay unpaved and hard to get through. Traveling by river is slow and depends on the weather. Air travel has been the most reliable way to get to markets outside of the country, even though it costs a lot of money.
The closures made people more likely to call for more money to be spent on infrastructure that can handle both natural and man-made threats.
Some leaders in the community stressed that while improving security is important, long-term solutions must also include better roads, communication networks, and logistics chains that are more environmentally friendly and make the area less vulnerable.
Reopening Soon
There are signs of progress, even though things are hard.
Government officials say that plans are in the works to make the closed airports safer. Some of the options being looked at are stronger perimeter fencing, trained security guards, better lighting and surveillance systems, and police and military forces patrolling together.
The Ministry of Transportation also said that threat assessments are being done to figure out when each airport can safely start operating again.
Officials have promised that reopenings will happen in stages, with the safest places being the first to reopen.
Residents are cautiously hopeful about the news of possible reopenings. Some people are hopeful that flights will start up again in a few months, as long as security gets better and safety measures are put in place.
The Road Ahead
The Smart Air attack led to the temporary closure of 11 airports in Papua. This shows how complicated the relationship is between security, development, and daily life. It shows how weak infrastructure can make people afraid, but it also shows how communities and the government can work together to get through tough times.
Airports in Pioneer will open again. But the things people learned during this time of grounded flights will probably stay with them for a long time.
Economic networks might be able to handle stress better. Emergency health and education services may change how they work. Plans for ground transportation may move faster.
But the main point is still true: air travel is very important in Papua, not because it is luxurious, but because it is necessary. It links families, keeps economies going, provides services, and shows that even the most isolated communities matter.
For the people of Papua, the runway is more than just a piece of concrete. It is a way to get to new chances. The temporary closure is a reminder of how important connection is, even though it was necessary for safety.
As security measures are put in place and planes get ready to fly again, many people are looking forward to the moment when the first flight takes off again. This will lift the spirits of communities that depend on them, as well as cargo and passengers.