Mesa Nonprofit's Life-Saving Flights Threatened by Soaring Fuel Costs

Samaritan Aviation struggles to maintain critical medical flights to remote Papua New Guinea communities amid skyrocketing jet fuel prices.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:50am

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A Christian nonprofit based in Mesa, Arizona called Samaritan Aviation is facing challenges in providing life-saving medical flights to remote communities in Papua New Guinea due to the soaring costs of jet fuel. The organization's float planes are the only way for many villagers to access critical healthcare, but the rising fuel prices are straining their budget and operations.

Why it matters

Samaritan Aviation's flights are a vital lifeline for thousands of people living in Papua New Guinea's remote islands, where 87% of the population has no access to medical care. Without these flights, many would be forced to make a days-long canoe journey just to reach the nearest hospital, putting lives at risk. The nonprofit's struggle to maintain operations amid skyrocketing fuel costs highlights the broader impact of global economic forces on critical humanitarian aid efforts.

The details

Samaritan Aviation relies on jet fuel shipped in 52-gallon drums from Australia to power its float planes, which the villagers call 'saman balus' or 'the flying canoe'. Each drum costs an average of $650 and can fuel five life-saving flights. The nonprofit spends around $120,000 a year on fuel alone. However, with the conflict in the Middle East disrupting fuel supplies, Samaritan Aviation is running low on its inventory and expects the cost to be even higher when it's time to restock.

  • Samaritan Aviation has been providing medical flights to remote Papua New Guinea communities for several years.
  • The organization is currently facing rising fuel costs that are straining its operations.

The players

Samaritan Aviation

A Christian nonprofit organization based in Mesa, Arizona that provides life-saving medical flights to remote communities in Papua New Guinea using float planes.

Brian Broyles

A representative of Samaritan Aviation who spoke about the challenges the organization is facing due to soaring fuel prices.

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What they’re saying

“If our planes stop coming, people die. We can turn a days long journey into a one hour life-saving flight because of our float planes.”

— Brian Broyles, Samaritan Aviation representative

“It's a baby that needs to be saved. It's a woman in labor that is going to lose the baby if they don't get to the hospital.”

— Brian Broyles, Samaritan Aviation representative

What’s next

Samaritan Aviation is currently running off its existing fuel inventory and waiting for more supplies to reach Papua New Guinea. The organization is also focusing on its upcoming fundraising campaign, which will be crucial to securing the necessary resources to maintain its life-saving flights in the face of rising fuel costs.

The takeaway

This story highlights the critical role that Samaritan Aviation plays in providing essential medical services to remote communities in Papua New Guinea, and the challenges the organization faces in sustaining its operations due to the global economic forces impacting fuel prices. It underscores the importance of supporting humanitarian aid efforts that rely on transportation infrastructure to reach vulnerable populations, especially in the face of growing economic pressures.