New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity in Indonesia's Papua By Reuters
JAKARTA – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed more than 19 months after he was kidnapped by armed men in Papua, Indonesia, authorities said Saturday.
Mehrtens was released and taken by a joint team in Nduga area, for medical and psychological evaluation in Timika regency area, Indonesian police said in a statement.
Indonesian police spokesman Bayu Suseno said Mehrtens would be flown to Jakarta on an air force plane and was expected to arrive at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in east Jakarta at around 8pm (1300 GMT).
Earlier, Indonesia's Metro TV showed Mehrtens talking to his family while crying on the phone. He then appeared at the press conference and appeared to be in a good mood.
Mehrtens did not appear to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder despite losing a lot of weight, said Bambang Trisnohadi, a lieutenant general in the Indonesian army, at a press conference.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, captured Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2023, after landing a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous area of Nduga.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on social media that X was grateful that Mehrtens had been released.
“I am very grateful to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who supported this good result for Phillip and his family,” said Luxon.
“His family will stay on the moon,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said at a press conference in Auckland.
Several New Zealand government agencies were working with Indonesian authorities and others to secure Mehtens' release, Peters said earlier in a statement.
“Through the long negotiation process, we are patient and do not do it in an oppressive way, our priority is the safety of the driver,” said Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a televised speech.
In August, another New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by rebels in Papua after landing his helicopter in a remote area, authorities said at the time.
