New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released after being held captive by armed separatists in Indonesia's Papua for over 19 months, according to authorities. Mehrtens was rescued and transported by a joint team to the Nduga area, where he underwent health assessments and psychological evaluations in Timika regency, as stated by the Indonesian police.
Following a tearful phone call with his family, broadcast on Indonesia's Metro TV, Mehrtens appeared at a press conference, appearing to be in good spirits. The West Papua National Liberation Army, led by Egianus Kogoya, had abducted Mehrtens on February 7, 2023, after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous region of Nduga.
Upon his arrival in Jakarta, Mehrtens was handed over to New Zealand government representatives, as confirmed by Indonesian senior cabinet minister Hadi Tjahjanto. Despite significant weight loss, Mehrtens did not exhibit signs of post-traumatic stress, according to Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi of the Indonesian military.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed his gratitude on the social media platform X, acknowledging the efforts of both Indonesian and New Zealand authorities in securing Mehrtens' release. The pilot's family issued a statement expressing their profound relief and gratitude for his safe return.
New Zealand government agencies collaborated closely with Indonesian authorities and other entities to facilitate Mehrtens' release. Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance of ensuring the pilot's safety throughout the negotiation process.
In a separate incident in August, another New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by separatist rebels in Papua after landing his helicopter in a remote area.
