OPM Shoots New Zealand Pilot While Still In The Cockpit And Helicopter Burns

The joint TNI-Polri task force team evacuated the body of Pilot Glen Malcolm Conning from Alama District to Timika on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (ANTARA)

TIMIKA - Commander of the Joint Operations Command for Defense Area III Lieutenant General Richard TH Tampubolon explained, during the evacuation process for a pilot from New Zealand, Glen Malcolm Conning, last Tuesday, the condition of the victim's body was still in the IWN MD 500 ER PK helicopter he was traveling in.

"The team from the TNI-Polri Task Force evacuated the bodies from the plane in Alama District and was taken to Timika City via Yohanis Kapiyau Timika Air Base Airport," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 7.

He also explained that the condition of the IWN MD 500 ER PK helicopter was still intact after the murder of pilot Glen Malcolm Conning by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in Alama District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

"The helicopter is still temporarily intact from the information we got and the condition is not too severe," said Richard.

Meanwhile, Head of the Cartenz Peace Operations Public Relations Task Force, Senior Commissioner of Police Bayu Suseno, explained that based on the information received, pilot Glen Malcolm Conning was shot, but for the position of the shot, it is not yet known because he has not read the results of the post mortem from the Mimika Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

"According to several witnesses' statements, it was true that the pilot was shot and the pilot position was in the cockpit of the helicopter," he said.

He added that the helicopter was burned by OPM members, but on the back, to be precise on the passenger seat.

"The plane was burned, but due to rainy weather conditions the fire was extinguished and only burned in the rear passenger seat," he said.