OPM Kills New Zealand Pilot And Burns His Body With Helicopter
TIMIKA - The Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force confirmed that the helicopter pilot belonging to the Intan Angkasa Air Service airline was killed by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) or an armed criminal group (KKB) when he landed in Alama District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, Monday 5 August 2024.
New Zealand national pilot Glen Malcolm Conning (50 years old) was tortured to death. His body was then burned with the MD500 ER PK-IWN helicopter flown by the victim.
"It is true that there have been hostage-taking and killings carried out by the KKB against Mr. Glen Malcolm Conning, who is a helicopter pilot belonging to PT Intan Angkasa Air Service," said Head of Public Relations of the Cartenz Peace Operations, Kombes Pol Bayu Suseno, Tuesday, August 6.
Initially the helicopter piloted by Glen Malcolm Conning brought health workers along with a baby and a child, departing from the hangar of UPBU Mozes Kilangin Timika Airport to the Alama district at 09.30 WIT.
Arriving there, they were intercepted by the KKB using firearms. Pilots and passengers were unloaded from the helicopter and then collected around the location of the helicopter landing.
"After that, the KKB immediately killed the pilot. The pilot's body was taken to the helicopter and then burned along with the helicopter," said Kasatgas Bayu.
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Bayu made sure all passengers were safe. "All passengers are safe because they are local residents, namely in Alama District, Mimika Regency," explained Bayu.
The helicopters carried six passengers, consisting of four adults and two children, named Kolariak (adults), Hasmaya (adults), Demianus (adults), Ferni (children), Naomi (adults), and Hafidan (children).