New Zealand helicopter pilot killed in Papua

Authorities say the group responsible for Mr Conning’s death is the same that is holding Mr Mehrtens.

Mr Conning was killed when rebels rounded up those on board the helicopter, including four passengers, after they landed in an isolated area in the Central Papua province, police said in a statement. The passengers are reported to be safe.

The spokesperson for the police special operation in Papua, Bayu Suseno, claimed the pilot’s body was taken to the helicopter and then burned along with the aircraft in Alama District, which can only by accessed by helicopter.

Mr Conning was shuttling passengers for a private company.

OPM spokesman Mr Sambom told the BBC that despite being unable to verify the claims, “if it was true, then the pilot is a spy because we have declared that the area is a war zone”.


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