Sept. 21 (UPI) — New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed by the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army after more than 19 months in captivity, Indonesian police announced Saturday. “I am very happy that shortly I will be able to go home and meet my family,” Mehrtens said during a press conference. “Thank you for everybody who helped me today so I can get out safely in a healthy condition.”
The armed separatists captured Mehrtens, 38, on Feb. 7, 2023, after he landed a light aircraft on a remote airfield.
Indonesia officials chose to negotiate with the Papua separatists to secure Mehrtens’ release instead of using force, Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters.
The separatists released Mehrtens to Indonesian police in a remote village in the Asian nation’s Nduga Regency.
A joint crew of Indonesian police and military flew Mehrtens in a helicopter to nearby Timika, where he underwent medical and psychological checks.
An Indonesian Air Force plane will fly Mehrtens to Jakarta and land at the Jalim Perdanakusuma air base when he is healthy enough to travel.
“I am grateful Phillip Merhtens has been released after more than 19 months in captivity,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Saturday in a post on X. “My appreciation to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who have supported this positive outcome for Phillip and his family.”
Mehrtens lost a lot of weight while in captivity but is relatively healthy physically and mentally.
Another New Zealand pilot, Glen Conning, 50, was killed when he landed a helicopter in Papua in August.