It was in early February 2023 that Phillip Mehrtens landed a small plane in a remote mountainous area in Indonesian West Papua. Rebels stormed the plane, set it on fire and took him hostage.
Since then he has been held captive by the armed wing of the Papuan Liberation Movement.
Been released
Last year, a picture was made public, where the rebels posed with the pilot. On Saturday, there will be information that Mehrtens has finally been released, after 592 days in captivity.
The release is confirmed by New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
“We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and has been able to speak with his family,” the minister said in a statement.