New Zealand pilot freed in Indonesia after 19 months in rebel captivity

JAKARTA: New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua and is in good health despite the 19-month ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said Saturday.
Mehrtens, 38, was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) insurgent group at Papua’s Nduga airport on February 7 last year.
A joint task force of police and military collected Mehrtens in a village of Nduga district early Saturday before he was given medical and psychological checks and flown to the Papuan city of Timika.
“Today we have picked up pilot Phillip who is in good health and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of the special unit formed to handle rebels in Papua, said in a statement.
The New Zealand government said Mehrtens was doing well and had spoken to his family, which had been assisted by Wellington.
“We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk with his family,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
“This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones.”
Mehrtens was providing vital air links and supplies to remote communities at the time of his abduction by rebels from the TPNPB.