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

• Pilot Seuk Kim was transporting three dogs to an animal shelter when his plane crashed in Windham, New York, on Nov. 24, officials said
• Two of the dogs were found alive following the crash
• “Seuk was more than just a pilot; he was a champion for others, a friend to all, and a deeply loved member of his family,” his obituary read

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, the Greene 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. 

Authorities identified the aircraft as a Mooney M20J flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, carrying the pilot and three dogs. 

“Responders have reached and secured the crash site,”  the Greene County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday, Nov. 25. “GCSO are being assisted by the NYS Forest Rangers, NYS Police, Greene County Emergency Services, Windham and Hensonville Fire Departments and The Civil Air Patrol.”

In another news release issued 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. 

Authorities added that two of the three dogs were found alive–a Lab mix puppy with two broken legs, and another one with minor injuries. Both animals were transported for veterinary care.  Meanwhile, the remaining dog was found deceased.

“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 said in a further update. 

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

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.”

Maggie Pryor, director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County, said in a statement, later obtained by the AP and CBS News, that “over the years, Seuk helped to save the lives of hundreds of animals who would have otherwise been euthanized due to overcrowding at animal shelters.”

The Animal Shelter of Schoharie County’s statement said that before the crash, Kim was flying with three dogs rescued from “a euthanasia list at a high-kill shelter” to an airport in Albany where the animals were to be taken in by the shelter. 

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.”