In brief
Authorities have confirmed that all six occupants of a private plane that crashed in an open field in upstate New York on Saturday afternoon were killed. Among the victims was Karenna Groff, a distinguished former football player for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who was traveling with her parents, brother, and his partner. The family was reportedly en route to a holiday celebration. A video reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) captured the plane moments before it descended rapidly and crashed.
In a heartfelt family statement, the victims were identified as Karenna, her parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared, his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna's partner James Santoro. Santoro's father remarked on the immense loss, noting the positive impact the family could have made in the world. Karenna, honored as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022, had graduated from MIT and was studying at NYU’s medical school. Her parents were esteemed medical professionals, while her brother had a legal career ahead of him.NTSB spokesperson Todd Inman stated that the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was heavily damaged upon impact in a muddy agricultural area just before noon. Despite attempts by air traffic control to communicate with the pilot, no response was received. Initially operating under instrument flight rules, the family’s tragic accident comes shortly after another fatal helicopter crash in New York, raising concerns about aviation safety. An investigation is currently underway, with the NTSB set to release its findings within the next year or two.
