[Rte66]

I remember them thanking the Kim family's choppers, but the pilot that was named for rescuing Kati and the girls is not the same one in this latest story.

This man went on his own, wasn't hired by the Kims, as far as I know. If he owns 8 Burger Kings, he has his own financial resources and wasn't "on hire."

He may also be one of those people who doesn't want any publicity, for obvious reasons, and may also adhere to the spiritual axiom that if you tell someone about a good deed, it doesn't count. I used to run into that a lot in charitable work.

[VOA]

...adhere to the spiritual axiom that if you tell someone about
a good deed, it doesn't count. I used to run into that a lot
in charitable work.

I haven't researched it, but an law-enforcement officer I knew
said the "disappearing rescuer" phenomenon isn't uncommon.
I get the feeling that some folks just can't stand the glare of
the lights or get antsy at the thought of the word "hero" being
stuck on them in public.