New Zealand Pilot Phillip Mehrtens Released from Captivity in Indonesia’s Papua, According to Reuters

JAKARTA (Reuters) – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released after more than 19 months in captivity, having been kidnapped by armed separatists in Indonesia’s Papua region, authorities announced on Saturday.

Mehrtens was rescued by a joint team in the Nduga area and is currently undergoing health check-ups and psychological evaluations in Timika regency, according to a statement from the Indonesian police.

Emotional footage showed Mehrtens communicating with his family by phone, and he later appeared at a press conference, appearing to be in good spirits.

The West Papua National Liberation Army, led by Egianus Kogoya, abducted Mehrtens on February 7, 2023, after he landed a small commercial aircraft in the remote, mountainous region of Nduga.

After arriving in Jakarta late on Saturday, Mehrtens was handed over to representatives of the New Zealand government, as stated by Hadi Tjahjanto, a senior Indonesian cabinet minister.

Although he had lost significant weight, Mehrtens did not appear to show signs of post-traumatic stress, shared Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi of the Indonesian military during the press conference.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed gratitude on social media for Mehrtens’ release, thanking everyone in both Indonesia and New Zealand who contributed to this positive outcome for him and his family.

The family of Mehrtens issued a statement on Sunday, expressing their deep gratitude and relief regarding his release and looking forward to their reunion.

Various New Zealand government agencies had collaborated with Indonesian authorities in efforts to secure Mehrtens’ freedom, as noted by Peters in a previous statement.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, in a televised address, remarked on the lengthy negotiation process, emphasizing a careful approach aimed at prioritizing the pilot’s safety without resorting to aggressive measures.

In August, another New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was tragically killed by separatist rebels in Papua after his helicopter landed in a remote area.