TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Cartenz Peace Operation confirmed that an armed criminal group took hostage and killed a New Zealand Pilot for Intan Angkasa Air Service, Glen Malcolm Conning, 50-year old, on Monday, August 5, 2024, in Alama District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

Head of the Cartenz Peace Operation, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, confirmed that the pilot was killed upon landing. The helicopter was carrying four passengers, including two health workers, a baby, and a child.

Authorities said Alama District is isolated and can only be reached by helicopters.

Head of Public Relations for the Cartenz Peace Operation, Grand Commissioner Bayu Suseno stated that a witness said the armed group intercepted the pilot and passengers using firearms.

"The armed group immediately killed Glen Malcolm Conning," he said in a written statement on Monday, August 5, 2024.

The body of the New Zealand pilot, he said, was taken back to the IWN, MD. 500 ER PK helicopter and was burned along with it.

"All passengers are safe because they are Alama locals,” he said.

Bayu said the National Police, the military, and the Mimika Police are still pursuing the armed group responsible for the hostage-taking and murder.

He said the armed group’s plan to free Philip Mark Mehrtens, the Susi Air pilot taken hostage in February last year was just propaganda. "And it happened again today, no? A foreign pilot was killed by the group,” he said.

NOVALI PANJI NUGROHO

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