Armed pro-independence rebels in Indonesia's Papua region have released New Zealand man Philip Mehrtens after holding him hostage for more than 19 months.
Indonesian police in Papua announced Mr Mehrtens was handed over to a joint military-police helicopter crew at a remote village in Nduga regency in a central highlands area.
From there, the 38-year-old father-of-one was flown to the nearby town of Timika, where police said he underwent medical and psychological assessments.
A spokesperson for the Indonesian police, Bayu Suseno, said Mr Mehrtens would be flown to Jakarta in an air force plane and was estimated to arrive at the Halim Perdanakusuma air base in east Jakarta at about 8pm, local time.
"I talked to pilot Phillip and he basically said he's happy now that he can be freed," said Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno, spokesman for the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, a police body.
"In general, he's healthy. He suffered from asthma a while back but now he's well," Mr Suseno said in a recorded message.
Images and videos released by police show Mr Mehrtens sitting with officers at a command post building in Timika.
"Today I have been freed. I am very happy that shortly I will be able to go home and meet my family," Mr Mehrtens said at a press conference on Saturday, speaking in Indonesian.
"Thank you for everybody who helped me today so I can get out safely in a healthy condition."
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on social media platform X he was grateful Mr Mehrtens had been released.
"My appreciation to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who have supported this positive outcome for Phillip and his family," Mr Luxon said.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a press conference in Auckland that Mr Mehrtens would leave Timika and go to Jakarta "very, very soon" to reunite with his family.
"His family will be absolutely over the moon, I believe."
A range of New Zealand government agencies had worked with Indonesian authorities and others to secure Mehrtens's release, he said earlier in a statement.
The release comes just days after a spokesman for the West Papua independence movement published a plan on how a release of Mr Mehrtens would unfold, although police in Papua initially expressed scepticism about whether the rebels were sincere.
A faction of the rebels headed by Egianius Kogoya captured Mr Mehrtens on February 7 last year after he flew a light charter plane to a remote airstrip for work.
He was there to pick up a group of workers but was instead ambushed by the armed men, who destroyed his plane and took him to a remote jungle location.
Over more than 19 months, the armed group sporadically released videos of Mr Mehrtens and sought to use him as a bargaining chip to secure talks with international bodies on independence for Papua.
But earlier this year, the broader umbrella group representing the pro-independence movement announced they would release Mr Mehrtens for humane reasons.
Earlier this week, the West Papua National Liberation Army called for the United Nations to be involved in the release, saying it would "demonstrate a genuine commitment to upholding human rights and promoting peaceful resolution of conflicts".
A spokesman also said the Indonesian security forces were increasing their presence in the Nduga regency area, which was denied by a military spokesman.
Indonesian police say they have used a "soft approach" for seeking Mr Mehrten's release going through religious leaders, church groups, tribal leaders and family members of Mr Kogoya.
Susi Pudjuastuti, the owner of the charter flight company Mr Mehrtens works for, said on social media platform X: "Allah is great and loving! Our thanks to the government and all parties who have helped our pilots return home."
She tagged in the post the accounts of Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo, and president-elect Prabowo Subianto.
"Through the long process of negotiation, with patience not to do it repressively, our priority has been the safety of the pilot," Mr Widodo said in televised remarks.
ABC/wires
