OPM kills pilot from New Zealand in Mimika, Papua

Jayapura (ANTARA) - The Free Papua Organization (OPM) took hostages and murdered Glen Malcolm Conning (50), a New Zealand national and pilot for PT. Intan Angkasa Air Service, on Monday (Aug 7), according to Indonesian military-national police joint-operation.

Head of Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force 2024, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani in a press release received by ANTARA in Jayapura, Monday, revealed that the separatist armed group also burned the helicopter in Alama, Mimika District, Central Papua Province at 10:00 WIT (GMT+9). 

"There was a hostage-taking and murder carried out by the OPM against Glen Malcolm Conning who was a helicopter pilot PT. Intan Angkasa Air Service," he said.

He noted that the incident occurred when the helicopter carrying four passengers, two health workers, a baby and a child, from Moses Kilangin Timika Airport arrived in Alama Sub-district.

The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force spokesman, Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno, said information received by a witness with the initials D explained that when the helicopter arrived in Alama, the passengers and pilot were immediately blocked by OPM.

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"And at that time, Mr. Glen Malcolm Conning immediately was killed by OPM," he said.

Suseno said that the incident began at around 09:30 WIT. Upon its arrival in Alama, OPM intercepted the helicopter by using firearms and removed the pilot and passengers from the helicopter and gathered them in the field.

"After that, OPM immediately killed the pilot and his body was taken to the helicopter and then burned together with the helicopter," he said.

Suseno added that the pilot named Glen Malcolm Conning from New Zealand and was born on February 23, 1974 with passport number LM096455 worked at PT. Intan Angkasa Air Service which is located in Timika.

"The identity of the passengers matched with their appearance and based on field data, all passengers are safe," he said.

Currently, the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) and national police (Polri), as well as Mimika Police, have carried out law enforcement efforts and pursued the OPM responsible for killing the New Zealand pilot and taking passengers hostage.

"We will continue to enforce the law against OPM who make the public order and security disturbance in the jurisdiction of the Papua Police," Suseno said.

Conning's death is the latest incident in a history of attacks by separatists on civilian aircraft and their crews in Papua.

In February 2023, a Susi Air plane was burned by the OPM in Nduga Regency. The pilot, Captain Philip Mark Merthens, a New Zealand national, was taken hostage. Despite ongoing efforts, his whereabouts remain unknown.