In 2000, Korolev became a naturalized Canadian citizen. On September 7, 2011, 4:05 P.M. Moscow Time, Korolev was killed in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl air disaster. The plane that was carrying the entire roster of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ran off the runway before it took off, hit a tower mast, caught fire and crashed, killing 43 of 45 passengers on board. He was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto after a funeral on September 18, 2011.