Indonesian authorities said Saturday the New Zealand pilot who’s been held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region has been freed by separatist rebels.

New Zealand pilot held hostage in Papua for over a year freed by rebels, Indonesian authorities confirm.

He was kidnapped by armed separatists more than 19 ago

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia's restive region of Papua and is in good health despite the 19-month ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said Saturday. Mehrtens, 38, was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels from…

JAKARTA: New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia's restive region of Papua and was in good health despite the 19-month-long ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said Saturday (Sep 21). Mehrtens, 38, was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air whe

A pilot from New Zealand who was being held captive in the restive Indonesian region of West Papua has been freed. Phillip Mehrtens was kidnapped more than a year and a half ago.

Phillip Mark Mehrtens was handed over early on Saturday to the Cartenz Peace Taskforce.

The pilot was working for the Indonesian aviation company Susi Air and was handed over to the Cartenz Peace Taskforce early Saturday.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters called the hostage's safe release after 1 1/2 years "one of the better stories I've had in my career, I have to say."

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has reportedly been freed from more than 1 1/2 years in captivity in Indonesia.

An Indonesian military official said that Phillip Mehrtens had lost a lot of weight but didn't appear to suffer any post-traumatic stress.