Two dogs that survived an animal rescue plane crash have found forever homes.
The crash, which occurred on Nov. 24, 2024, in upstate New York, resulted in the death of one dog and pilot, 49-year-old Seuk Kim, who regularly conducted rescue flights to help shelter pets get adopted dogs.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office shared shortly after the crash that the two surviving canines on the plane suffered injuries: a Labrador retriever mix puppy suffered two broken legs, while the other dog sustained minor injuries. Both animals received veterinary care shortly after the plane accident.
In an update published on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Maggie Pryor, director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County, told the Associated Press that the two canine survivors have found loving adopters.
Six-month-old Whiskey, who suffered the two broken legs, is now “on his feet,” according to the outlet. The dog underwent surgeries at a specialty hospital in Connecticut.
Whiskey has also won over his current foster family, who plans to adopt him officially soon.
The other surviving dog, Pluto, had a speedy recovery and has since found a forever home.
Meanwhile, the remains of the third dog, named Lisa, went to the late pilot’s relatives.
“He obviously cared enough about [Lisa] to risk his life on an expedition to save her,” the pilot’s 16-year-old daughter Leah Kim told the Associated Press in December. “And we just want to make sure she’s being taken care of. We feel a responsibility to continue what he started.”
Officials previously identified the aircraft as a Mooney M20J plane flying from Maryland to Albany, N.Y.
The sheriff’s office said the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report states that Kim told air traffic controllers he hit moderate to heavy turbulence at 5,000 feet. He then descended to about 4,300 feet and reported that conditions improved. The pilot did not contact air traffic support again before the crash and did not make any distress calls.
According to an obituary, Kim worked with a nonprofit organization that rescues and transports dogs from overcrowded shelters to loving 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.”
In a statement obtained by CBS News, Pryer said 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 statement added that Kim was flying the three dogs rescued from “a euthanasia list at a high-kill shelter” to an airport in Albany, where they were to be taken in by the shelter.
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