JAKARTA (Reuters) -New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed greater than 19 months after being kidnapped by armed separatists in Indonesia’s Papua, authorities mentioned on Saturday.
Mehrtens was freed and picked up by a joint staff within the Nduga space and was present process well being check-ups and a psychological examination in Timika regency, the Indonesian police mentioned in a press release.
Indonesia’s Metro TV confirmed him tearfully talking to his household by cellphone. Mehrtens then made a rapid look at a press convention and gave the impression to be in good spirits.
Mehrtens didn’t seem to endure any post-traumatic stress though he had misplaced a variety of weight, and he ought to be capable to fly out of Papua quickly, mentioned Bambang Trisnohadi, a lieutenant basic with the Indonesian army.
A faction of the West Papua Nationwide Liberation Military (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, kidnapped Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2023, after he landed a small industrial airplane within the distant, mountainous space of Nduga.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon mentioned on social media platform X he was grateful Mehrtens had been launched.
“My appreciation to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who have supported this positive outcome for Phillip and his family,” Luxon mentioned.
New Zealand International Minister Winston Peters mentioned in a press convention in Auckland that Mehrtens would depart Timika and go to Jakarta “very very soon” to reunite along with his household.
“His family will be absolutely over the moon, I believe,” Peters mentioned.
A spread of New Zealand authorities businesses had been working with Indonesian authorities and others in the direction of securing Mehrtens’ launch, Peters mentioned earlier in a press release.
“Through the long process of negotiation, with patience not to do it repressively, our priority has been the safety of the pilot,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo mentioned in televised remarks.
The Indonesian police mentioned they’d maintain a press convention afterward Saturday.
In August, one other New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by separatist rebels in Papua after touchdown his helicopter in a distant space, authorities mentioned on the time.