New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, held hostage by separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region for over a year, was freed on Saturday.

Mehrtens, who worked for Susi Air, was abducted in February 2023. His release followed extensive negotiations involving local leaders and church officials.

No demands were made in return. Mehrtens’ family expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government for prioritizing peaceful negotiations, the Associated Press has reported.

Papua has seen ongoing conflict since its disputed 1969 integration into Indonesia, with insurgent violence escalating in recent years.

Mehrtens is now safely reunited with his family in Jakarta.

Written by B.C. Begley