The authorities are still searching the whereabouts of Susi Air pilot Captain Phillips Mehrtens following the hijack and burning of the aircraft by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) in Nduga regency, Highland Papua, on February 7, 2023.
The Papuan Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya burned the plane, with flight number SI 9368 and registration number PK BVY, at the Paro Airstrip in Nduga. The plane was on the Timika-Paro route.
According to Jeremy Rumi, Susi Air district manager, the plane took off from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Mimika, Central Papua, for Paro Airport in Nduga before dawn but lost contact after landing at 6:17 a.m. local time.
The TPNPB has claimed responsibility for the attack and has issued a threat to kill the pilot if the government did not acknowledge the independence of West Papua.
“We took this pilot hostage and brought him to the TPNPB headquarters, which is far from the airstrip,” TPNPB-OPM National Commission spokesman Sebby Sambom told The Australian in a statement.
“This pilot is a citizen of New Zealand. TPNPB considers New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the United States, Europe, all are responsible.”
“The US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have supported the Indonesian government, trained the National Police and supplied weapons to kill West Papuans from 1963 to today. They must be held accountable,” Sambom said.
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has called for better safeguards for civilian flights into Papua after the recent abduction of a New Zealand pilot by rebel fighters. “An aircraft that has landed can only be set on fire if there is not enough security. There should have been some security attendance,” he said as quoted by state news agency Antara on February 10, 2023.
Passengers are safe
There were five passengers on board the Susi Air plane. A joint operation from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police have successfully evacuated the five passengers along with 15 construction workers, who had been taken hostage.
Wamena Military Commander Brig. Gen. J.O. Sembiring said the workers had sought refuge in a priest’s house since February 4, 2023, after the rebel group threatened to kill them.
Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo confirmed that the passengers and construction workers were safe.
The location of pilot Mehrtens remains unknown. The TPNPB-OPM has claimed to have taken the New Zealand pilot hostage in this incident.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins assured that embassy officials have been working on the case. “I’m aware of the case. I don’t have full details of it … I’m aware that the New Zealand embassy is working on the case,” he told public broadcaster RNZ on February 8, 2023.
Susi Pudjiastuti, the founder of Susi Air and former Indonesian fisheries minister, requested prayers and support in a tweet, expressing her hope for a safe retrieval of the pilot.
“Please pray for and support. With all humility and in the name of humanity. We ask for the safety of PK BVY pilots & passengers,” she tweeted.
