The search for a Susi Air pilot taken hostage by a Papuan separatist group has been expanded to Yahukimo and Puncak Districts.

The search for a Susi Air pilot who was taken hostage by a Papuan separatist group, led by Egianus Kogoya, has been extended to include Yahukimo and Puncak Districts. The pilot, identified as Captain Philip Mark Merthens from New Zealand, was taken hostage on February 7th, 2023, after the plane he was manning landed at the Paro airfield and was set on fire by KKB. The search has been challenging due to the extensive area it covers over four districts in Highlands Papua, which is around 35,378 square kilometers. Efforts have been made to rescue the pilot, including involving a negotiating team comprising Nduga district community leaders, but they have not yielded any results. The National Police and the Indonesian Defense Forces will continue their efforts to find and free the pilot. However, Kogoya has a track record of murder, and his previous statements must be taken seriously. The safety of Captain Merthens is a priority for the search team, and they will have to be cautious in their approach.