A private plane carrying six individuals tragically crashed in an open field in upstate New York on Saturday, resulting in the loss of all lives on board. According to authorities, the victims included celebrated former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) football player Karenna Groff, along with her parents, brother, and his partner.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the Groff family was en route to a holiday celebration when the accident occurred. A joint family statement revealed the identities of the victims: Karenna Groff, her parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared Groff and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna's partner, James Santoro. John Santoro, James's father, expressed profound grief, 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 Groff was a remarkable individual, recognized as the Woman of the Year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2022 during her senior year. She graduated from MIT, where she met her partner James, and was currently enrolled in medical school at New York University (NYU). Her parents were both distinguished doctors, while her brother Jared worked as a paralegal, and his partner Alexia was preparing to join Harvard Law School.
An NYU spokesperson praised Karenna for her exceptional skills and unwavering commitment to patient care, stating, "We will remember her for her warmth, her grace, her kindness, her outstanding accomplishments, and the pure joy she brought to our community."
Reports from a New York Times article identified the pilot of the crashed plane as Dr. Michael Groff, Karenna's father, who was described as experienced by the family. However, this information has not been officially confirmed by the family or authorities. During a press conference on Sunday, NTSB official Todd Inman stated that the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was found compressed, buckled, and embedded in the terrain of a muddy agricultural field near Craryville, New York.
The crash occurred around midday while the family was en route to Columbia County Airport. Inman noted that air traffic control had attempted to reach out to the pilot multiple times but received no response or distress signal. He further explained that the pilot had been flying under instrument flight rules rather than visual flight rules, and it was too early to determine whether weather conditions played a role in the crash.
Inman confirmed that the aircraft was equipped with an upgraded cockpit featuring newer technology and was certified to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards. An investigation is currently underway, with a probable cause of the crash expected to be detailed in the NTSB's final report, which may take between 12 to 24 months.
This heartbreaking incident follows closely on the heels of another aviation tragedy involving a helicopter crash in New York that claimed six lives, including a family of Spanish tourists. The recent spate of aviation accidents raises concerns and emphasizes the importance of safety measures in air travel.
