A small plane tragically crashed in the snowy wilderness of the Catskill Mountains, resulting in the death of the pilot and at least one dog, while a puppy miraculously survived with severe injuries. The incident unfolded as the pilot, identified as Seuk Kim, aged 49, was en route from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the aircraft went down around 6:10 p.m. on a Sunday in a remote section of Windham, located about 35 miles southwest of Albany.
According to the Greene County Sheriff, Peter Kusminsky, preliminary findings suggest that the pilot succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash. Officials confirmed that Kim hailed from Springfield, Virginia. The flight was reportedly carrying three dogs as part of a mission associated with a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing animals, facilitated by volunteer pilots. Among the dogs was a Labrador-mix puppy, who was destined for a local animal shelter, and it was found alive despite suffering from two broken legs.
The sheriff described the puppy as being quite frightened, stating that it had burrowed into the snow for protection. Fortunately, the puppy is currently under care at a veterinary hospital and is expected to recover well. However, a third dog on the flight is still unaccounted for. Efforts to gather more information have included contacting the animal hospital and emailing the non-profit organization involved.
The investigation into the crash is being conducted by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). On the day of the incident, visibility was reported to be poor, and prior to the crash, Kim had requested to alter his altitude to navigate through turbulence. The crash site was located in a wooded area, a few miles from the nearest roadway, and rescue teams were only able to find the wreckage shortly before midnight, buried under approximately one foot of snow, according to Sheriff Kusminsky.