New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed from more than 18 months in captivity in Indonesia’s Papua, the Indonesian police said in a statement on Saturday.

The brother of freed Kiwi hostage Phillip Mehrtens is floored by the support from across the globe to help his pilot brother ease back into life with his young family. In February 2023, Phillip Mehrtens’s plane was attacked by rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region - who told him he may never be released and threatened to kill him.

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed from more than 18 months in captivity in Indonesia’s Papua, the Indonesian police said in a statement on Saturday. The NZ government said Mr Mehrtens was doing well and had spoken to his family,

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released after more than 18 months of captivity by an armed faction in Indonesia's Papua region. Abducted in February 2023 while flying for Susi Air, Mehrtens is now safe and undergoing medical evaluations.

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released by separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region, 19 months after his kidnapping.

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who has been freed more than 1-1/2 years after being held hostage by a pro-independence group, is pictured, in Timika, Central Papua province, Indonesia, September 21, 2024. Indonesia's Police/Handout via REUTERS