In a devastating tragedy, the lives of six “very good people” were cut short in a plane crash near Copake, New York, on April 12, 2025.
See the tweet below!
Among the victims was Karenna Groff, the brilliant MIT soccer star and recipient of the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
As the nation mourns this heartbreaking loss, questions arise about the circumstances surrounding the crash, which will undoubtedly fuel public concerns about aviation safety.
A private twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B plane, which former NCAA star Karenna Groff was traveling in, crashed into a field near the Massachusetts line.
All six aboard, including Groff’s family and boyfriend, perished in the accident.
They were heading to the Catskills to celebrate both Groff’s 25th birthday and the Passover holiday.
The crash site, roughly 10 miles from Columbia County Airport, was marked by a high rate of descent, with video showing the aircraft was intact before impact.
Groff’s father, Dr. Michael Groff, an experienced pilot, was at the controls when air traffic control communications ceased after he requested a new approach plan.
Dr. Joy Saini, a pelvic surgeon, and Jared Groff, Karenna’s brother, were counted among the deceased, as were her boyfriend, James Santoro, and Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte.
NTSB officials confirmed, “The aircraft was intact and crashed at a high rate of descent into the ground.”
“[Data] appears to show that the aircraft was intact and crashed at a high rate of descent into the ground,” said NTSB official Todd Inman, cited by The Independent.
Amid the tragedy, Groff was remembered for her numerous achievements.
An MIT soccer team captain and third-team All-American, she also co-founded openPPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her remarkable ability to balance athletics, academics, and philanthropy won her the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year title.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting investigations, with a preliminary report expected soon.
Dr. Michael Groff had missed his initial approach at Columbia County Airport, yet his earlier request for a new landing plan remains one of several mysteries that investigators are working to untangle.
The victims were poised for promising futures. Karenna Groff was an NYU medical student, and Santoro was an investment associate.
As James Santoro’s father John Santoro expressed, “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.” In these trying times, such words remind us of the fragility of life and the incredible potential of those we lost.
While the NTSB remains on-site for their ongoing investigation, the Groff family’s request for privacy during this difficult time is a poignant reminder of the personal toll such public tragedies unleash.
Authorities have revealed the names of the six victims who were killed in a New York state plane crash on Saturday, including renowned former student athlete Karenna Groff. https://t.co/rb3gsCETx0
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) April 14, 2025
