New Zealand pilot freed in Indonesia after 19-month hostage ordeal

Mehrtens was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels at Nduga airport in the restive region on February 7 last year.

“Today we have picked up pilot Phillip who is in good health and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of a special unit formed to handle rebels in Papua, said in a statement.

A joint task force of police and military picked up Mehrtens in a village of Nduga district early Saturday, Faizal said.

The released hostage was then given medical and psychological checks before he was flown to Papua’s city of Timika.