Pilot transports dog ashes from Albany to VA for memorial

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A volunteer pilot and five-month-old dog will be buried together Thursday in Virginia after both dying in a plane crash on Nov. 24 in Windham. The pilot, Suek Kim was transporting three dogs from a high risk shelter to a shelter in Schoharie County, for a chance at a better life -- now another pilot has stepped up to help.

A Virginia man who is also a volunteer pilot, Chris Moon stepped up on Sunday to offer help to Kim's family. He flew to the Albany Airport Sunday afternoon to pick up the dog's ashes so that she could be buried with Kim.

“I was actually with him Sunday when we were both doing dog flights he took off to come up here and I took off in a different direction," said Moon.

Moon worked with Kim as volunteer pilots on dog flights, where they would transport dogs to better shelters. Together, they saved countless dogs lives. He said the morning on Sunday, Nov. 24 was just like any other morning.

“We were just doing our normal thing and everybody was in a good mood, nobody obviously could’ve guessed what was going to happen a few hours later," said Moon.

That was the last time anybody would see Kim after a plane crash took his life and five-month-old dog Lisa's life. There were two other dogs on the plane that did survive - Pluto and Whiskey. Pluto originally ran away from the plane crash scene but came back, and Whiskey undergone surgery to help his injuries. Both dogs are recovering in foster care while they heal.

Moon remembers Kim as someone who was always helping others.

“He did everything for everybody and never hesitated. He would say yes to anything you asked. I think the happiest I've ever seen him is when he’s moving dogs around. He loved what he was doing," said Moon.

Family and friends planned to honor Kim with a memorial, but they didn't want to do it without Lisa.

“They wanted to get the remains of the puppy down there and they were talking about shipping them and I said 'No, no let's go get him," said Moon.

Maggie Jackman Pryor, executive director of the Animal Shelter of Schoharie County said that without Moon's help, there's a chance Lisa's ashes would've never made it to Virginia.

“It was very important to Suek’s family that she be buried with him so absolutely amazing that he would make this trip up here to guarantee that the ashes made it safely back," said Jackman Pryor.

Pilots and Paws, a rescue organization that works with shelters like the Schoharie Animal Shelter, relies on pilots like Moon and the late Kim to help these dogs. Jackman Pryor was waiting for the three dogs Kim was carrying to arrive when the plane crash happened. She was the one to drive five hours to get Whiskey vital surgery.

Jackman Pryor also said she's worked with Kim multiple times in the past and he was dedicated to their cause.

“It was in his heart just to give and give," said Jackman Pryor. "Just the light he spread with his kindness was amazing."

Moon's plane took off around 2:30 p.m. Sunday from Albany International Airport and landed safely around 4:30 p.m. in Leesburg, Virginia. The memorial will be held on Thursday morning.