By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-26 21:07:05 | Updated at 2024-11-29 10:35:53
2 days ago
A pilot known for flying dogs across the country to be adopted has been killed after a plane crash in a remote area of New York.
Seuk Kim, 49, died on impact - as was the case with one of the canines he had been carrying in his Mooney M20J Sunday.
Two managed to survive - found during a subsequent search of the crash site in the Catskill Mountains.
Cops went on to reveal how Kim had been ferrying the animals from Maryland to Albany - something not unusual for the father-of-three.
Countless Facebook posts from the credentialed pilot show him flying other rescues across the US and setting them up in forever homes - however far-flung they may be.
He had lived nearly 400 miles from where his plane went down around 6:10pm - which spurred a frantic search for survivors.
One dog, a lab mix puppy, was found with two broken legs, while another that was initially reported missing, was found the next day with minor injuries.
The animal was taken in for veterinary care, while Kim's body was extracted for an autopsy. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were still on the scene Tuesday, cops said.
Seuk Kim, 49, died after his plane crashed in the Catskill Mountains Sunday - as was the case with one of the three canines he had been ferrying from Maryland to Albany to be adopted
Two dogs managed to survive, including this lab-mix who was found with two broken legs
'The plane, which was initially reported to be a Cessna, is actually a Mooney M20J. While investigators were working at the scene they found the third dog with minor injuries,' the most recent statement from the Greene County Sheriff's Office read.
'The dog was transported by Hyer Ground Rescue along with PAW (Partners for Animal Welfare) for veterinary care.
'The pilot has been extricated and transported to Ellis Hospital for an autopsy.
'The NTSB and the FAA are still on the scene.'
Statements beforehand positively identified Kim as being the pilot, with photos on his social media further him in front of the same plane mentioned by authorities.
Other posts show how he had flown hundreds of dogs for rehoming without incident - as investigators now look into what caused the plane to crash.
The area where the plane went down, at the time, was experiencing clear skies and no increment weather.
Photos shared Tuesday showed one of the four-legged survivors, the lab-mix named Whiskey, receiving treatment at the Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center Tuesday. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The puppy, named Whiskey, was seen receiving treatment at the Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center Tuesday
A day before - a day after the crash - a third dog initially reported missing, was found the next day with minor injuries (seen here)
Kim was a licensed pilot known for flying dogs across the country - all to find them forever homes more efficiently. His body has been taken in for an autopsy, cops said - adding only that he died on impact
Tributes that have poured in since Kim's death have painted him as a selfless animal lover who died doing what he loved. The FAA and NTSB are looking into what caused the crash
He was a father-of-three, and had hailed from Burke, Virginia. He leaves behind a wife as well, along with his two sons and one daughter
Tributes, meanwhile, continued to pour in for Kim after his death - including from his eldest Leah, who is just 16.
'He died doing what he loved, which was saving animals,' she told Fox 5 DC Monday.
'He always made sure to be available because this is something he cared about,'
On social media, she added: 'Hug your loved ones all a little bit tighter because my father didn't wake up yesterday thinking it would be his last day on earth.'
Anna Kang, Kim's wife, added in her own post: Please hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight. Please remember Seuk. Please comment and let me know how you crossed paths with him.
'I want my kids to know how selfless and fabulous their dad was,' she concluded.
Christine Kim, another relative, added: '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 bodacious spirit, generous heart, and endless capacity for love will be profoundly missed by his wife, three kids, parents, sibling, extended family, and countless friends.
Barely a month ago, Kim wrote how he was flying four dogs - one of which is seen here - from Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tennessee to Virginia for adoption. His body has been taken to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady for an autopsy, cops said
Whiskey, who broke his two back legs, is seen here again on Tuesday. Feds are vetting what caused the crash
'As we grieve, we take solace in knowing that Seuk lived fully, loved deeply, and left a legacy of kindness and courage,' she added. 'He reminds us to embrace life with enthusiasm, to take bold leaps, and to always lend a hand to those in need.'
Barely a month ago, Kim himself wrote how he was flying four dogs from Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tennessee to Stafford, Virginia for adoption.
'I’ve flown hundreds of dogs and never has one chewed and gnawed through a crate to get out and stand on it, looking so proud like she had conquered it,' he wrote with an accompanying photo.
'Could have gone badly I suppose if she wasn’t such a great dog,' the former partner and vice president at public relations firm SunStar Strategic said.
'Velma (the wiry escape artist) is available to adopt out of Stafford/Fredricksburg area if anyone is interested.'
His body has been taken to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady for an autopsy, deputies said.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the FAA for an update in their investigation.
