NZ Pilot Killed by West Papua Gunmen

New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning was killed by gunmen allegedly with the West Papua Liberation Army after landing in Alama, Central Papua province, Indonesia. The attack, which saw the safe release of four local passengers including health workers and children, is linked to the same separatist group holding another New Zealand pilot, Phillip Mehrtens, captive since February 2023. The West Papua Liberation Army claims the area as a restricted zone and has previously warned against unauthorized landings. This incident underscores the long-standing conflict between Indonesian authorities and pro-independence Papuan rebels, marked by frequent and increasingly deadly attacks. New Zealand's foreign ministry is seeking further information, while local security forces pursue the assailants.