Pilot Transporting Rescue Animals Dies in N.Y. Crash, but 2 Dogs Survive: 'Gained His Angel Wings'

Mar. 15, 2025

Pilot and animal rescuer Seuk Kim.Photo:Seuk Kim/Facebook

Seuk Kim/Facebook

An animal rescue pilot has been killed in a plane crash in upstate New York, while two dogs who were with him survived, authorities said.

In a news release, theGreene County Sheriff’s Office(GCSO) said the crash happened on Sunday, Nov. 24, around 6:05 p.m. local time, in a remote part of the town of Windham.

In another news releaseissued that same day, the sheriff’s office said the pilot was tentatively identified as Seuk Kim, 49, of Springfield, Virginia. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The pilot has been extricated and transported to Ellis Hospital for an autopsy. The NTSB and the FAA are still on the scene,” the Greene County Sheriff’s Office saidin a further update.

One of the two dogs who survived a Nov, 24, 2024, plane crash in upstate New York that killed the pilot.Greene County Sheriff’s Office

Greene County Sheriff’s Office

Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said that based on a preliminary investigation, Kim died from the crash’s impact, theAssociated Pressreported.

In an email to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Nov. 26, the GCSO said that the investigation “is still ongoing with the FAA and NTSB still on the scene.”

According to an obituary, Kim worked with a nonprofit organization involved in the rescue and transport of dogs to safe homes.

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“Seuk was a bright light in all our lives—witty, spontaneous, and full of boundless generosity,” read the tribute. “His laughter could fill a room, and his zest for life inspired everyone fortunate enough to know him. Whether through his bold sense of adventure or his quiet acts of kindness, he left a lasting impression on everyone he met.”

SFC Virginia, another animal rescue group, paid tribute to Kim in a Facebook post.

“We saw him just [Nov. 24] at a local airport while picking up our own dogs, moments before he embarked on his last rescue mission,” the group wrote. “As always, Seuk was upbeat, smiling, and happy- we never once saw him in a bad mood!”

“Transporters are the unseen, unsung heroes of the rescue world, acting as the bridge that helps so many pets who wouldn’t have a chance in their original shelters,” SFC Virginia added.  “Many of them, including Seuk, do this important work on their own time, using their own resources.”

Anna Kang, Kim’s wife, wrote on Facebook that she was “heartbroken” over her husband’s death.

“My husband Seuk Kim gained his angel wings doing what he loved,” Kang said. “He was flying rescue dogs to Albany when the accident occurred. He is my life long partner, my soul mate, father of my children. I miss him and his bright personality.”

source: people.com