A liberation army has released two videos featuring a former Jetstar pilot following his abduction.
On February 7, 2023, Phillip Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot, landed a small commercial passenger aircraft at Paro airport in Nduga, located in the West Papua region of Indonesia.
Instead of picking up 15 construction workers as planned, Mehrtens was kidnapped by the West Papua Liberation Army and held captive for a year-and-a-half.
The construction workers, who were engaged in building a health center in the Nduga district, faced threats to their lives, prompting Mehrtens’ mission to evacuate them.
Upon landing, rebels boarded the aircraft, ‘seized’ Mehrtens and ‘set fire’ to the plane, releasing the five passengers who were indigenous Papuans.
A video circulating online depicted the plane in flames, with individuals armed with bows, arrows, and guns standing in the forest nearby.
In one video, Mehrtens is seen standing next to a rebel who stated: “I took him hostage for Papua independence, not for food or drinks. He will be safe with me as long as Indonesia does not use its arms, either from the air or on the ground.”
Additional footage was also released, capturing different moments of the former Jetstar pilot’s captivity.
In May, a video showed Mehrtens surrounded by rebels armed with guns, holding a banned Morning Star flag, an emblem of Papuan independence.
Mehrtens appeared frail and thin, addressing the camera to convey the West Papua Liberation Army’s demand for international discussions about Papuan independence ‘within two months’ or face the threat of his execution, according to Sky News.
Another video, released in December, featured Mehrtens assuring his loved ones and authorities that he was being ‘treated well’ and was ‘okay’.
In this message, he expressed efforts to ‘stay positive’ and conveyed his love to his wife and son, hoping to speak with them soon.
In February 2024, marking a year since Mehrtens’ abduction, the rebel group declared they would release him to ‘protect humanity and safeguard human rights’.
Mehrtens was ultimately freed 19 months after his kidnapping. During a news conference held upon his release, he shared: “I am so happy. Today I finally got out. I am so happy to be back home with my family soon. Thank you to everyone who helped me get out safely and healthy.”