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New Zealand Pilot Freed After 18 Months In Papua Captivity

Phillip Mehrtens New Zealand Papua Indonesia Kidnapping TPNPB
Pilots are seen in the cockpit of an airplane as it sits on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport on the July 4th weekend in Queens, New York City

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released after being held captive for over 18 months in Indonesia's Papua region. The pilot expressed his gratitude at a press conference in Timika, Indonesia, stating that he is very happy to be going home.

Mehrtens was kidnapped by an armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army on February 7, 2023, after landing a small commercial plane in the remote area of Nduga. The captors aimed to pressure New Zealand to support Papua's secession from Indonesia, a demand deemed unattainable.

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