Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD confirmed on Tuesday (14/2/2023) that Philip Mehrtens, the pilot of a Susi Air plane that was set ablaze in Nduga, Papua, has been taken hostage.

"The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) has been taking Captain Philip Mehrtens hostage," he said in a press conference.

The Indonesian government has been communicating with the New Zealand government for the release of the pilot, who is a New Zealand citizen, the minister said.

Emphasizing that the government has been facilitating a persuasive approach to rescue Mehrtens, he reiterated that civilian hostage-taking was unacceptable, regardless of the reasons behind it.

(ay/af/pr/um)