Indonesian police say Mehertens is in good health after getting out of the mountainous Nduga.
New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed 19 months after being kidnapped by rebels in Indonesia’s eastern Papua region.
“Today, we picked up the pilot Philip, who is in good health, and we flew him from Neduga to Timika,” Faisal Ramadani, head of the special unit formed to handle the conflict in Papua, said in a statement on Saturday. Mehertens is also undergoing health checks and a physical examination, Indonesian police added.
Militants of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) snatched Mehertens on February 7 last year after he landed his small commercial plane in the remote mountainous area of Neduga.
They said they will release him only if Indonesia gives independence to Papua.
The New Zealand government said Mehrtens is doing well and has spoken to his family.
“We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Philip Mehrdens is safe and well and have been able to speak with his family,” Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said.
“This news must come as a huge relief to his friends and loved ones.”
Papua’s indigenous people, ethnic Melanesians, have been fighting for independence since the territory was annexed by Indonesia following a controversial United Nations-backed referendum.
New Zealand media reported earlier this week that the rebels had proposed new terms for Mehrtens’ release.
Indonesian police said they would hold a press conference on Saturday about Mehrtens’ release.
