Volunteer pilot died ‘doing what he loved’ — flying rescue dogs to safety, family says
A beloved volunteer pilot — who regularly flew rescue dogs to safety — died after his plane crashed in a remote area of New York, authorities said.
The pilot, identified as 49-year-old Seuk Kim, was flying three rescue dogs from Maryland to Albany when his plane went down at about 6:10 p.m. Nov. 24, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office said in a Nov. 25 Facebook post.
Wreckage from the single-engine Mooney M20 plane was found Nov. 25 in Windham, about a 55-mile drive southwest from Albany, the plane’s intended destination, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a Nov. 25 statement.
One of the dogs died in the wreck, and two others were found injured and were taken in for veterinary care, deputies said.
“I am heartbroken,” Anna Kang, Kim’s wife, said in a Nov. 25 Facebook post. “My husband Seuk Kim gained his angel wings doing what he loved.”
According to loved ones, Kim was a father of three who recently started working with a nonprofit dedicated to transporting dogs to safe homes. In an online memorial, he was described as “witty, spontaneous, and full of boundless generosity.”
“We will miss him dearly and he will forever hold a special place in our hearts,” Kang said.
Rescue community mourns pilot
Kim started his work with Pilots N Paws in March 2022 and recruited more than a dozen new pilots in 2024, the organization said in a Nov. 27 statement shared with McClatchy News.
“His passion led him to become a loyal ambassador of our organization as he frequently encouraged others to join the cause,” Pilots N Paws said. “We will miss him deeply but find comfort in knowing his spirit of compassion and generosity will continue to inspire us all.”
Several others took to Facebook to share their memories and gratitude for Kim.
“We are heartbroken that volunteer Pilots N Paws pilot, Seuk Kim, was tragically killed in a plane crash yesterday evening,” Shar-Pei rescue of Virginia said in a Nov. 25 Facebook post. “This is such an enormous loss for the animal rescue community.”
Another person commented on a different Facebook post, saying Kim was a “true animal advocate.”
“So many animals in Appalachia and all over the country are forever impacted by his compassion and kindness,” they said.
Authorities said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
“As we grieve, we take solace in knowing that Seuk lived fully, loved deeply, and left a legacy of kindness and courage,” loved ones said in the online memorial.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 4:33 PM.
