New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed after 19 months held captive in Indonesia's Papua region

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-21/new-zealand-pilot-phillip-mehrtens-freed-from-captivity-in-papua/104380250

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens freed after 19 months held captive in Indonesia's Papua region

55m ago

Indonesian police say Phillip Mehrtens is in good health. (Supplied)

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed after 19 months in captivity in Indonesia's Papua region, according to Indonesian police.

An armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, kidnapped Mr Mehrtens on February 7, 2023, after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous area of Nduga.

The 38-year-old father-of-one was employed to pilot the charter flight to evacuate workers from the restive region, which Indonesia's government military has long struggled to fully control.

Indonesian police said Mr Mehrtens was handed over at a remote village in central Papua, before being flown to a police headquarters building in the town of Timika.

"We are prioritising approach through religious leaders, church leaders, traditional leaders and Egianus Kogoya's close family to minimise casualties and maintain the safety of the pilot," said the chief of Cartenz 2024 Peace Operations, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani.

A police spokesman said Mr Mehrtens was in good health but was undergoing a medical assessment in Timika.

Police released pictures showing Mr Mehrtens talking to officers after they secured his freedom. 

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