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'I don't blame jet pilot for killing my family'
Ed Harris10 Dec 2008
THE man who lost his wife, two daughters and mother-in-law when a US fighter plane crashed into his house said today he did not blame the pilot.
"I don't have any hard feelings," said Korean-American Dong Yun Yoon. "I know he did everything he could."
The airman ejected from his F-18 jet moments before it ploughed into Mr Yoon's house in San Diego at about noon on Monday, after an apparent power failure.
In the resulting fireball, Mr Yoon lost his 36-year-old wife Young Mi Yoon, mother-in-law Suk Im Kim, 60, along with daughters two-month-old Rachel and Grace, one.
Sitting with his pastor, Mr Dong, 37, asked how he would survive after losing three generations of his family. "Please tell me how to do it," he said. "I don't know what to do."
His mother-in-law had been visiting from South Korea to help care for her daughter's newborn child Rachel.
No one else was injured when the jet slid down the street in wealthy suburb Universal City, reducing Mr Dong's home to rubble and damaging three other properties. The Marine Corps fighter had been heading for Miramar air base after suffering difficulties during a training mission over the Pacific.
A high-ranking congressman on the House Armed Services Committee has called for all maintenance records of the type of F-18 that crashed to be released.
Republican Duncan Hunter said: "It is important that we gain a complete understanding of what went wrong."
The Navy announced last month that it was grounding 10 of the planes and limiting the flights of 20 others after cracks were found in the hinges of the folding wings.
Reader views (5)
What an example to us all. God bless you Dong.
- Paul, UK, 11/12/2008 17:39
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This story is so heart breaking... in a split second, everything this man held dear was taken away from him. May God bless you during your most diffult time and grief and may your family rest in peace.
This story is a reality check for anyone who thinks they have it bad; sit and imagine if you can, this man's reality now.
- Mary, San Diego, CA USA, 11/12/2008 05:40
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In a time of grief when all of us would be sorely tested, he has shown a better way, a deep and kind understanding of a tragedy that extended beyond his own family and loss.
This is a good, kind and gentle man.
- Hugo, NYC, US, 10/12/2008 19:31
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The comment here about the wings is irrelevant - this plane was having engine failure.
The grandstanding by Rep. Hunter is unnecessary and his attempt to score political points from this tragedy should be enough to have him put out of office.
I feel great sadness for my two fellow Americans whose lives are now intertwined in a most miserable way.
- Trunk, US, 10/12/2008 16:20
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Today this man has won my respect totally.
True dignity and understanding at a time when he would be forgiven for hating.
A lot can be learnt from this story.
- Liberal Thinker, UK, 10/12/2008 12:43
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