New Zealand pilot freed in Indonesia after 19 months rebel captivity

TIMIKA, Indonesia: New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua region 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 forces collected Mehrtens in a village in Nduga district early Saturday, before he was given medical and psychological checks and flown to the Papuan city of Timika, said the unit’s head Faizal Ramadhani. “Today I have been freed. I am very happy that shortly I will be able to go home and meet my family,” Mehrtens told reporters earlier in Timika, speaking in Indonesian. “Thank you for everybody who helped me today, so I can get out safely in a healthy condition.”

Mehrtens arrived in capital Jakarta from Timika on Saturday evening where Hadi Tjahjanto, coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, told reporters Mehrtens had been handed over to New Zealand’s ambassador.