A private aircraft 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 the renowned former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) football player Karenna Groff, her parents, and her brother, as confirmed by a family statement. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the family was en route to a holiday celebration when the incident occurred.
Details of the crash and its victims
Officials obtained a video capturing the final moments of the flight, which showed the plane intact before descending rapidly into the ground. A joint family statement disclosed the names of the victims: Karenna Groff, her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared Groff and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, along with Karenna’s partner, James Santoro.
“They were a wonderful family,” said James’s father, John Santoro. “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, who was a former athlete, was honored as Woman of the Year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2022 during her senior year. A graduate of MIT, where she met James, she was also enrolled in medical school at New York University (NYU). Her parents were respected physicians, while her brother Jared worked as a paralegal. His partner Alexia was preparing to enter Harvard Law School.
An NYU spokesperson expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Karenna demonstrated exceptional skill and unwavering passion towards the care of patients and the mission of our institution. We will remember her for her warmth, her grace, her kindness, her outstanding accomplishments, and the pure joy she brought to our community.”
Investigation into the cause of the crash
Reports, including one from The New York Times, identified the plane’s pilot as Dr. Groff, Karenna’s father, described as “experienced” by the family. However, this claim regarding his role as the pilot has not been independently verified by family members or authorities.
During a press conference on Sunday, NTSB official Todd Inman mentioned 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.
Mr. Inman added that air traffic control had attempted to reach out to the pilot multiple times but received no response or distress communication. The pilot was reportedly operating under instrument flight rules, as opposed to visual flight rules. Inman noted that it was premature to ascertain whether poor visibility due to weather conditions played a role in the crash.
The aircraft was equipped with an upgraded cockpit featuring newer technology, certified to Federal Aviation Administration standards. An investigation is currently underway, with the NTSB expected to provide a probable cause of the crash in its final report within the next 12 to 24 months.
This devastating incident follows closely on the heels of another tragedy in New York, where six individuals, including a family of Spanish tourists, lost their lives in a helicopter crash.