A New Zealand helicopter pilot, Glen Malcolm Conning, was tragically shot and killed on Monday by separatist fighters shortly after his helicopter landed in the remote village of Alama, located in the Papua province of Indonesia. Conning, 50, was employed by the Indonesian aviation company PT Intan Angkasa Air Service.
According to Faizal Ramadhani, head of the joint security peace force in Papua, the attackers released four Indigenous Papuan passengers, including two health workers and two children on board, before setting the helicopter on fire. The gunmen are alleged to be part of the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), which has been in a long-standing conflict with Indonesian authorities, seeking independence for the resource-rich region. This conflict has intensified since 2018, when separatist fighters attacked a major road project, resulting in the deaths of 19 Indonesian construction workers, as reported by 9News.
Benny Wenda, president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), released a statement condemning the killing and expressing sorrow over Conning’s death. Wenda also denied responsibility for the incident, stating that Indonesia had indirectly caused the death by breaching the restricted zone to entrench their occupation of the Highlands. According to Wenda, Indonesia’s actions have been putting foreigners in danger, and he reiterated the group’s longstanding demand for a UN Human Rights visit to the area, a visit that Indonesia continues to deny. The full statement can be read here.
This incident is notably reminiscent of another case involving a New Zealand pilot, Phillip Mehrtens, who was taken captive in February last year. In the same statement, it was announced that Mehrtens would be released.
Glen Conning, originally from Motueka in New Zealand’s South Island, was an experienced pilot who had participated in various missions, including fighting bushfires near Christchurch earlier this year. Papua’s complex geography and limited infrastructure mean that air travel is often the only viable mode of transportation, making pilots like Conning crucial for connectivity in the region.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently seeking further information from Indonesian authorities. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged the reports and emphasized the need for more details from the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta. Further information can be found on ABC News.
The full article covering this incident is available on JURIST.