The security situation for airlines operating in Indonesia's Papua region continues to deteriorate with gunmen shooting at a B737 aircraft at the weekend and a pilot kidnapped in early February still captive.
The Aviation Herald is reporting that gunmen from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) shot at the Trigana Air Service (IL, Jakarta Halim) aircraft nine times at Yahukimo Nop Goliat Dekai Airport on March 11. There were 66 passengers onboard Flight IL-221, which had flown in from Jayapura Dortheys Hiyo Eluay International Airport when four shots were fired at the jet on its final approach.
Following its safe landing, the pilot of the B737-500 registered as PK-YSC (msn 26421) inspected the aircraft and declared it safe to operate Flight IL-222 back to Jayapura. However, during take-off a further five gunshots were heard, with one bullet piercing the fuselage and a seat, causing shrapnel injuries to a passenger. While the shooting reportedly caused some panic among passengers, the aircraft continued on to Jayapura, approximately 70 minutes' flying time away.
The aircraft remained grounded over the weekend but is scheduled to resume flights on March 13, albeit not to Dekai, with the airline suspending flights there for now. ch-aviation contacted Trigana Air Services for further details of the incident.
Meanwhile, the TPNPB and its allied entity the Free Papuan Movement (OPM) continue to hold captive New Zealand citizen and longtime Susi Air (SQS, Jakarta Halim) pilot Phillip Mehrtens after kidnapping him on February 7. Mehrtens was taken, along with five passengers, after flying a PC-6 into Paro Airport in Nduga in the Highland Papua province from Kokonao in Central Papua. The Pilatus was reportedly destroyed by the rebel group.
The group later released the passengers but have held onto Mehrtens, saying that New Zealand has supported the Indonesian government and has helped train and arm the Indonesian National Police. Elements within Papua's six provinces have been fighting for independence since Indonesia took control in 1963. Last weekend, footage of Mehrtens reading a statement from OPM was distributed by the group.
"No foreign pilots are permitted to work and fly in Papua until Papua is independent," Mehrtens said in what also served as a proof-of-life clip."OPM requests the United Nations to mediate between Papua and Indonesia to work towards Papuan independence. OPM will release me after Papua is independent."
The Indonesian government has said it is working towards the release of Mehrtens but has so far declined offers of assistance from New Zealand. Susi Pudjiastuti, owner of Susi Air, has also called for the release of her pilot. "We continue to have hope that our pilot captain Philips Max Mehrtens can be released," she said at a news conference. "I understand what people are fighting for, (but) fighting for freedom by taking away the freedom of others is not a wise decision."
In Dekai, Indonesian authorities reportedly arrested seven gunman fleeing the scene after the weekend's shooting. They are believed to be assisting local police with their inquiries.
