Inp.polri.go.id - Jayapura. A joint operation of the Indonesian Military and the Indonesian National Police (INP) evacuated five passengers of Susi Air and 15 construction workers, who were held hostage by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya.

Police Senior Superintendent Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, the Head of the Public Relations Department of the Papua Police, said that the passengers of the Susi Air plane and construction workers were safe.

"The five passengers of the Susi Air plane and the 15 construction workers are currently in good health after the evacuation," he said in a written statement on Wednesday (8/2/2023).

He added that the joint-operation team evacuated the workers using a helicopter. The joint operation team continued to search for the pilot of the Susi Air plane, identified as Philip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand citizen. As of Wednesday, the team continued to explore the forest in the Nduga region, Papua.

"The search for the pilot of the Susi Air plane is underway. We will convey any further development," he added.

A Susi Air plane with registration number PK BVY with the route Timika-Paro and flight number SI 9368 was burned down by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya at the Paro Airstrip, Paro District in Nduga Regency on Tuesday morning, (7/2/2023).

The 15 construction workers were able to escape and were rescued by local people after being taken hostage by the KKB when they were building a health center in Nduge Regency, Papua.

(af/pr/um)