REPUBLICA.CO.ID, TIMIKA — Armed separatist group from the Papua Liberation Organization (OPM) reportedly kills a pilot named Glen Malcom Conning. Indonesia authority reports that the pilot, a New Zealand national, was killed on Monday (5/8/2024) in the Alama District of Mimika District, Central Papua.

Glen Malcom Conning is known to pilot a helicopter belonging to PT Intan Angkasa Air Service. “True, there has been a hostage-taking and murder committed by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) against Glen Malcolm Conning who is a helicopter pilot belonging to PT Intan Angkasa Air Service,” said Cartenz Operations Task Force Chief, Brigadier General (Brigjen) Faizal Ramadhani through a press release received by journalists in Jakarta on Monday (5/8/2024).

Ramadhani explained that the pilot was killed when a group of armed separatists attacked. It said that armed separatists, on Monday (5/8/2024) attacked an IWN MD.500 ER-PK helicopter piloted by Mr Glen Malcolm flying from Timika's Moses Kilangin Airport. The helicopter was flying towards Alama District carrying medical passengers, and infants, as well as children.

“The helicopter was carrying four passengers, consisting of two adults who are health workers (nakes), and one infant, and another person is a child,” Brig. Gen. Faizal said.

Spokeperson for the Cartenz Operations Task Force Bayu Suseno explained that, from the tracing of the incident, after the helicopter arrived in Alama District, a number of armed groups were waiting at the landings. “They were intercepted by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) who used firearms,” Bayu said.

As the helicopter perfectly landed, the armed group, pointed guns in the direction of all the passengers, including to the pilot. “Then the pilot and passengers were taken down, and gathered in the middle of the field,” Bayu said. After gathering it, Kombes Bayu said, from the explanation of a witness who survived, the fault of one separatist member holding a firearm directly fired on pilot Glen Molcoll.

Other members of the group, Bayu said, based on witness accounts directly committed arson against the helicopter. “We submit that the identity of the murdered pilot is Mr Glen Malcolm Conning of New Zealand origin,” Kombes Bayu said. The other passengers, Bayu said, were in safe condition. “All passengers are confirmed to be in safe condition, and are currently still in Alama District,” Bayu said. 

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