Pilot killed in plane crash in remote New York woods, two dogs survive

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.

The flight, organised by a nonprofit group that uses volunteer pilots to transport rescue animals, carried three dogs. (Representational/AP)

A pilot and a rescue dog he was transporting to an animal shelter were killed when a small plane crashed in the snowy Catskill Mountains. However, two other dogs on board survived the crash, authorities confirmed.

Seuk Kim, 49, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, on Sunday evening when the aircraft went down in a remote wooded area near Windham, about 35 miles (56 kilometres) southwest of Albany, Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said. Preliminary findings indicate Kim died on impact, reported Associated Press (AP).

The flight, organised by a nonprofit group that uses volunteer pilots to transport rescue animals, carried three dogs. Two survived: a Labrador-mix puppy with broken bones and an 18-month-old Yorkshire terrier mix named Pluto, who sustained minor injuries.

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“The puppy with broken bones was very frightened and burrowed into the snow,” Kusminsky said. Named Whiskey, the injured dog was taken to a veterinary hospital in Middleton, Connecticut, according to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County, where the dogs were being transported.

Tributes poured in for Kim, a resident of Springfield, Virginia, who was praised for his dedication to rescuing animals. “Over the years, Seuk helped save the lives of hundreds of animals who would otherwise have been euthanised due to overcrowding at shelters,” said Maggie Pryor, director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County.

Cathay West, who runs Kuddles & Kisses K9 Rescue in Baltimore, Maryland, recalled Kim’s tireless efforts to transport at-risk dogs. “In October, he delivered a mother dog and her five puppies to me—dogs that had been days away from euthanasia in Tennessee. He was passionate about encouraging others to volunteer and save these animals,” West said.

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Kim, originally from South Korea, immigrated to the United States with little but a dream, according to a statement from his family. “Through hard work and perseverance, he built a life of meaning and generosity. He was a kind, selfless individual who always went out of his way to help others. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, both human and animal.”

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.

Authorities reported poor visibility at the time of the accident. Sheriff Kusminsky noted that Kim had requested permission to adjust altitude due to turbulence before the crash. The wreckage was discovered late Sunday night in woods covered by about a foot of snow, two miles from the nearest road.

(with inputs from AP)

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