inp.polri.go.id - Jayapura. The Nduga Police has been investigating the disappearance of a Porter Pilatus plane belonging to Susi Air with flight number SI 9368, which lost contact after it landed at Paro Airport in Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains Province.

Citing a report from Timika Regional Manager of Susi Air Jeremy Jordan Rumi, Papua Police Chief of Public Relations Department Police Senior Superintendent Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo said that the plane took off from Mozes Kilangin Airport in Mimika Regency and was heading to Paro Airport in Paro District in Nduga Regency.

The whereabout of the pilot, identified as Philip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand citizen, and the five passengers remained unknown.

“At 6.17 am Eastern Indonesian Time, the plane landed at Paro Airport in Nduga Regency. But as of 9.15 am Eastern Indonesian Time, the plane did not return to Timika as scheduled,” he said.

The joint forces of Cartensz Peace Operation, Nduga Police personnel, and the Indonesian Military have been investigating the disappearance of the pilot and the five passengers that was that was suspected to involve the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya, he added.

(ay/af/hn/um)