New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua and was in good health despite the 19-month-long ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said Saturday.
Mehrtens was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels at Nduga airport in the restive region on February 7 last year.
“Today we have picked up pilot Phillip who is in good health and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of a special unit formed to handle rebels in Papua, said in a statement.
A joint task force of police and military picked up Mehrtens in a village of Nduga district early Saturday, Faizal said.
The released hostage was then given medical and psychological checks before he was flown to Papua’s city of Timika.
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 West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) insurgent group.
His release came after intense diplomatic efforts by Wellington and Jakarta.
