Family of Pilot Who Died During Animal Rescue Flight Receives Ashes of Dog Killed in the Crash

12/02/2024 01:19 PM

"We feel a responsibility to continue what he started," said the daughter of pilot Seuk Kim, who was killed on Nov. 24

• Animal rescue pilot Seuk Kim, 49, was killed in a plane crash on Nov. 24 as he was transporting three dogs to an animal shelter in upstate New York
• His family received the ashes of Lisa, one of the dogs also killed in the crash, who will be buried in the backyard of the family's home
• A service will be held for Seuk on Thursday, Dec. 5

The family of an animal rescue pilot who was killed in a plane crash on Sunday, Nov. 24, in upstate New York while transporting three shelter dogs received the ashes of one of the animals, Lisa, who also died in the incident. 

Pilots n Paws, the animal rescue group that pilot Seuk Kim worked for until his death, announced in a Facebook post that one of its volunteer pilots, Chris Moon, flew from Albany, New York, to Virginia on Sunday, Dec. 1, to deliver Lisa's ashes to Seuk's family. 

"He obviously cared enough about her [Lisa] to risk his life on an expedition to save her,"  Leah Kim, 16, Seuk's daughter, said of her father in an Associated Press interview published on Dec. 1.  "And we just want to make sure she's being taken care of. We feel a responsibility to continue what he started."

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On Nov. 24, Seuk, 49, flew on a Mooney M20J from Maryland en route to Albany, New York, to deliver the three dogs to an animal shelter when the aircraft crashed in the town of Windham, New York. He and Lisa were killed while the other two dogs survived and were taken to veterinary care. 

The New York Timesreported that Seuk asked permission to change his altitude during his flight due to air turbulence, according to Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky.

Leah told the AP that the idea of having Lisa's ashes air delivered to the family was a symbolic way to finish her father's mission. 

"We all sat down and talked about what we'd like to do with his remains," Leah told the AP. "And then we were given the option to have Lisa's remains brought to us, we decided that we would all feel much better if she was with us."

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She also said Lisa's ashes will likely be buried in the family's backyard, the news agency further reported.

An obituary described Seuk as someone who always dreamed of flying, a wish that became a reality when he became a pilot. 

"Seuk was a bright light in all our lives — witty, spontaneous, and full of boundless generosity," the obituary read. "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 shared 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."

Pilot n Paws said that Seuk, who joined the group in 2022, performed nearly two rescue missions a week, adding that he "saved countless lives and inspired so many within the aviation and animal rescue communities." 

"Seuk's kindness and positivity touched everyone who worked with him," Pilot n Paws shared in a Wednesday, Nov. 27, Facebook post. "Whether it was mentoring new pilots, organizing presentations to recruit volunteers, or simply offering a kind word, Seuk brought people and animals together. Seuk's legacy will live on through the hundreds of lives he saved and everyone he worked alongside within the rescue community."

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Anna Kang, Seuk's widow, paid tribute to her late husband in a Nov. 27 Facebook post, as well, writing: "I am heart broken [sic]. My husband Seuk Kim gained his angel wings doing what he loved. 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. Please pray for him, please pray for us. We will miss him dearly and he will forever hold a special place in our hearts."

In a Nov. 27 interview with ABC News, Leah said her father's legacy "is for people to live their lives with joy," adding that he loved nothing more than rescuing animals. 

"Over the summer, I actually flew a rescue mission with him," she told ABC News. "As much attention as he was paying to flying, he was looking back every couple minutes at the dogs, and he was smiling. And I don't think I've ever seen him smile that much."

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A funeral service for Seuk is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5, according to his obituary. 

"Soar high, Seuk. You will always be loved, and your memory will forever inspire us to reach for the skies," concluded the tribute.