New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who was kidnapped by armed separatists in Indonesia’s Papua region, has been freed after more than 19 months in captivity, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

Mehrtens was safely retrieved by a joint Indonesian security team in the Nduga area, where he had been held. He is currently undergoing health assessments and psychological evaluations in Timika regency, the Indonesian police revealed in a statement.

Transfer to Jakarta

Indonesian police spokesman Bayu Suseno stated that Mehrtens will be transported to Jakarta via an air force plane, with his arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase expected around 8 p.m. local time (1300 GMT). Earlier footage broadcast by Indonesia’s Metro TV showed an emotional Mehrtens speaking to his family by phone. Later, he appeared at a press conference, showing signs of recovery and positive spirits. Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi of the Indonesian military assured reporters that although Mehrtens had lost considerable weight during his captivity, he displayed no visible signs of post-traumatic stress.

Hostage situation orchestrated by separatists

Mehrtens was kidnapped on February 7, 2023, by a faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, after he landed a small commercial plane in the remote, mountainous region of Nduga. The Indonesian government has long been involved in delicate negotiations with the separatist group, prioritizing Mehrtens’ safety. “Through the long process of negotiation, with patience not to do it repressively, our priority has been the safety of the pilot,” said Indonesian President Joko Widodo in televised remarks.

Gratitude from New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed his relief on social media platform X, thanking all those involved in securing Mehrtens’ release. “My appreciation to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who have supported this positive outcome for Phillip and his family,” Luxon stated. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, speaking at a press conference in Auckland, said, “His family will be absolutely over the moon,” as he praised the cooperation between New Zealand and Indonesian authorities. A coordinated effort involving various New Zealand government agencies had been in place since the pilot’s abduction, according to Peters. “This was a complex and lengthy negotiation process, with the sole aim of securing Phillip’s safe release,” he added.

A tragic precedent

Mehrtens’ release comes after another New Zealand pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was killed by separatist rebels in Papua in August, after landing his helicopter in a similarly remote area. Authorities at the time condemned the fatal attack, further highlighting the volatile situation in Papua. Mehrtens’ freedom marks a rare positive outcome in a region fraught with tension between Indonesian authorities and separatist forces, offering a glimmer of relief for his family and the New Zealand government.