Tragedy Strikes with Fatal Plane Crash in Upstate New York

A private aircraft carrying a celebrated former MIT athlete and her family sadly crashed in New York, leaving behind a community in mourning.

A private plane crashed in an open field in upstate New York on Saturday, killing all six individuals on board, including former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) standout athlete Karenna Groff, her parents, brother, and his partner, as confirmed by a family statement. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the family was en route to a holiday gathering when the aircraft went down.

A video captured during the flight and obtained by officials revealed the plane intact moments before its abrupt descent, leading to the tragic crash. The family issued a joint statement naming the deceased: Karenna Groff, her parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared Groff, his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna's partner James Santoro.

John Santoro, James's father, expressed profound sadness, stating, "The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity. We're all personally devastated." Karenna had recently been awarded the title of Woman of the Year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2022, graduated from MIT, and was currently a medical student at New York University (NYU).

The family was well regarded, with both parents being esteemed medical professionals. Jared worked as a paralegal, and his partner Alexia was set to enroll at Harvard Law School. NYU representatives remarked, "Karenna demonstrated exceptional skill and unwavering passion towards the care of patients," commemorating her kindness and accomplishments.

Reports from the New York Times identified the plane's pilot as Dr. Groff, Karenna's father, described as "experienced" by family members. However, this account remains unconfirmed by authorities.

At a press conference, NTSB spokesperson Todd Inman revealed that the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft was severely damaged and embedded in muddy terrain near Craryville, New York. The tragic incident occurred around midday as the Groff family was approaching Columbia County Airport. Inman stated that air traffic control made multiple attempts to reach the pilot without receiving any response, indicating that the pilot was operating under instrument flight rules, which may have been affected by weather conditions. The plane featured updated cockpit technology that met Federal Aviation Administration standards.

Currently, an investigation is ongoing to identify the probable cause of this heartbreaking crash, with the NTSB's final report expected within 12 to 24 months. This incident follows closely on the heels of another tragedy where six individuals, including a Spanish tourist family, died in a separate helicopter crash in New York.