Dong Yun Yoon - You Are the Treasure.

By now, you have probably heard the story of the F/A-18D jet spiraling out of control after it’s two engines malfunctioned sending it crashing into a San Diego neighborhood. The pilot was able to eject to safety but the family inside one of the homes had no chance.

Dong Yun Yoon, the father of the family living at the house, had kissed his wife and kids goodbye about an hour earlier as he headed off to work. An hour later he had lost his wife, his 2 month old daughter, his 15 month old daughter and his mother-in-law who had moved in with them to help with the newborn.

Today, he issued a statement to the press that he did not blame the pilot along with a few other remarkable words:

"Please pray for the pilot so he does not suffer from this accident."

"He is one of our treasures for the country," he said in accented English punctuated by long pauses while he tried to maintain his composure.

"I don't blame him. I don't have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could," said Yoon, flanked by members of San Diego's Korean community, relatives and members from the family's church.

Yoon said he could not have imagined “such a horrible thing would have happened, especially right here, right (at) our house.”

“But I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God,” he said. “And I know God is taking care of them.”

What a great example of love and forgiveness. In Dong Yun Yoon’s darkest hour he wasn’t thinking of himself but was asking for people to pray for the pilot. What a great living testimony to the entire nation. I wonder what non-Christians think about these acts of love and forgiveness. They must wonder how a person can put the lives of others ahead of their own in such a tragic circumstance.

Hopefully, this story will show them the power of Christ’s love and the peace he brings to those that believe.


Dong Yun Yoon at press conference.


Dong Yun Yoon's home immediately following the accident.