A New Zealand pilot is freed after 19 months in rebel captivity in Indonesia’s Papua region

Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A New Zealand pilot held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region of Indonesia has been freed by separatist rebels. Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a 38-year-old pilot from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air when he was abducted by rebels from a remote airport on Feb. 7, 2023. He said Saturday after his release, “Today I finally got out. I am so happy to be back home with my family soon.” He was later flown to Jakarta to be reunited with his family. Rebels have used violence to try to achieve independence as the security situation deteriorates in Indonesia’s easternmost region of Papua.