We have spoken with several parties, especially with New Zealand (authorities). They have entrusted it (the search for the pilot) to us, and we will take action to save the Susi Air pilot.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - All passengers of a plane that was reportedly burnt down by an armed group (KKB) in Paro Sub-district, Nduga District, Highland Papua Province, have been rescued and evacuated, National Police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, said.

"Currently, all of the passengers have been evacuated and none of them is being held hostage," he informed after the “2023 Military-Police Command Meeting” here on Wednesday.

The five passengers have been identified as Demanus Gwijangge, Minda Gwijangge, Pelenus Gwijangge, Meita Gwijangge, and Wetina W.

Meanwhile, the search for the pilot of the plane, Captain Philip Max Marthen, who is a New Zealand national, is being carried out by a joint team of police and military personnel, along with the Peace Cartenz Task Force, the national police chief said.

The police have coordinated with related parties, including with New Zealand authorities, in the rescue operation for the pilot, he added.

"We have spoken with several parties, especially with New Zealand (authorities). They have entrusted it (the search for the pilot) to us, and we will take action to save the Susi Air pilot," he informed.

Indonesian Military Commander Admiral Yudo Margono said that currently, his party’s priority is finding the pilot.

The pilot was not taken hostage by the KKB, but had fled after being threatened by the group, he informed.

"He was threatened (by the KKB), then one of the local residents rescued him," he said.

The plane belonging to Susi Air was initially scheduled to evacuate 15 construction workers who were threatened by the armed group from Paro Sub-district to Timika Sub-district, Mimika District, Central Papua Province, Margono added.

In fact, Paro sub-district has not been included in areas that are prone to security disturbances carried out by KKB, thus airways include the area in flight routes, he said.

Due to the incident, the military has deployed more personnel in Paro Sub-district to prevent another security disruption.

The Susi Air aircraft that was burnt down by KKB on Tuesday (February 7, 2023) morning was flying on the Timika - Paro - Timika route.

The plane left Moses Kilangin Airport in Timika Sub-district, Mimika District, Central Papua Province, at 5:33 a.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (WIT) and was scheduled to arrive back in Timika at 7:40 a.m. WIT.

However, the plane lost contact near Paro Airport at 6:35 a.m. WIT.

Meanwhile, the 15 construction workers were successfully evacuated from Paro Sub-district to Timika Sub-district on Wednesday.

Related news: Search on for black boxes of crashed Susi Air plane
Related news: Ministry temporarily closes Paro Airfield in Nduga, Papua










Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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