The devastating accident occurred on Saturday, claiming the lives of former MIT football star Karenna Groff along with her family as they traveled for a holiday gathering.
Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of Prominent Family in New York
Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of Prominent Family in New York
A private aircraft mishap in upstate New York has left six dead, among them a celebrated former collegiate athlete.
The serene landscape of upstate New York was the backdrop for a tragic scene on Saturday when a private plane carrying six people crashed in a remote field, claiming the lives of all aboard. Among the deceased was Karenna Groff, a renowned former athlete from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), traveling with her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared Groff, his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and her own partner James Santoro.
According to a family statement, they were en route to a holiday celebration when the aircraft, a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, unexpectedly plummeted. Officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report that video footage captures the plane intact moments before the tragic descent.
James Santoro's father expressed the profound loss, stating, "The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world." Karenna was the NCAA's Woman of the Year in 2022 and was in medical school at New York University, signaling a promising future cut short. Her parents were respected medical professionals, while her brother's partner was poised to attend Harvard Law School.
NTSB official Todd Inman stated at a press conference that the aircraft was found "compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain." As investigators delve into the incident, it is noted that air traffic control attempts to contact the pilot, presumed to be Dr. Groff, went unanswered. Preliminary details point to the flight being executed under instrument flight rules, raising questions about the potential impact of weather conditions.
The investigation continues, with the NTSB expected to release a comprehensive report within the next year to 24 months. This incident adds to a troubling series of aviation accidents, as just days prior, another plane crash in New York resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a family of tourists.
As family, friends, and the broader community mourn this immense loss, the future they envisioned remains forever altered.
According to a family statement, they were en route to a holiday celebration when the aircraft, a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, unexpectedly plummeted. Officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report that video footage captures the plane intact moments before the tragic descent.
James Santoro's father expressed the profound loss, stating, "The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world." Karenna was the NCAA's Woman of the Year in 2022 and was in medical school at New York University, signaling a promising future cut short. Her parents were respected medical professionals, while her brother's partner was poised to attend Harvard Law School.
NTSB official Todd Inman stated at a press conference that the aircraft was found "compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain." As investigators delve into the incident, it is noted that air traffic control attempts to contact the pilot, presumed to be Dr. Groff, went unanswered. Preliminary details point to the flight being executed under instrument flight rules, raising questions about the potential impact of weather conditions.
The investigation continues, with the NTSB expected to release a comprehensive report within the next year to 24 months. This incident adds to a troubling series of aviation accidents, as just days prior, another plane crash in New York resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a family of tourists.
As family, friends, and the broader community mourn this immense loss, the future they envisioned remains forever altered.
