A devastating plane crash in upstate New York has taken the lives of six family members, including top doctors and MIT student-athletes. The victims were aboard a Mitsubishi MU2B aircraft headed to the Catskills for a birthday celebration and Passover holiday when the plane went down in a muddy field near Copake.
On April 12, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire twin-engine turboprop crashed in an open field near Copake, New York, killing all six people on board.https://t.co/esLLe0cTm9#Copake #NewYork #MitsubishiMU2 #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/pk7ykX5mhH
— AviationSource (@AvSourceNews) April 14, 2025
The family, known for their remarkable achievements, included Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and NCAA Woman of the Year, her boyfriend James Santoro, and her parents, Dr. Michael Groff, a renowned neuroscientist, and Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist. The pilot, despite being experienced, seemed to struggle with navigation, and air traffic controllers’ warnings of the plane’s low altitude went unresponded.
NCAA woman of the year included in those killed in upstate New York plane crash https://t.co/e58sYzfmw9 pic.twitter.com/qPhWOBV8ag
— The Independent (@Independent) April 14, 2025
The investigation, expected to take about a week, has revealed that the plane was certified under FAA standards and had no apparent mechanical issues. The NTSB has obtained video footage of the crash, showing the aircraft intact before impact. The community mourns the loss of these promising individuals, whose contributions to medicine, science, and sports were cut short.
Karenna Groff’s remarkable achievements, including co-founding openPPE and being awarded the NCAA Woman of the Year, serve as a testament to her dedication and passion. Her family’s love and legacy will be remembered, and their loss is deeply felt by those who knew them.
