by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer
After being held captive in West Papua, Indonesia for over 1.5 years, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed and is receiving medical attention. Indonesian President Joko Widodo praised the successful negotiations, which prioritized Mehrtens’ safety. The pilot was picked up by a joint team in Nduga Regency and is undergoing health checks in Timika regency. Mehrtens appeared to be in good spirits and was seen speaking to his family by phone, although he had lost a significant amount of weight. He is expected to fly out of Papua soon and will be transported to Jakarta on an air force plane.
Mehrtens has been released from captivity in West Papua, Indonesia, after being held for 19 months. He was kidnapped by the West Papua National Liberation Army in February 2023 while landing a small commercial plane in a remote area. Indonesian authorities and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked together to secure his release, prioritizing negotiations with religious and community leaders to avoid a military operation. Mehrtens was freed and is in good health, despite losing weight during his captivity. He was reunited with his family and is expected to fly out of Papua soon. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed the release, saying it was a relief for Mehrtens’ friends and loved ones.