Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of Prominent Family Traveling for Passover Celebration
A devastating plane crash in Copake, New York, claimed the lives of six individuals on Saturday as they traveled to the Catskills to celebrate both Passover and a family birthday.
The victims, part of a highly accomplished family, were aboard a Mitsubishi MU2B aircraft when it went down in a field shortly after noon. Authorities confirmed that all six occupants were killed in the crash.
Among those lost were Karenna Groff, a standout MIT soccer player and the NCAA Woman of the Year for 2022; her partner James Santoro, an MIT graduate; and Karenna’s parents, Dr. Michael Groff, a noted neurosurgeon, and Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist. Their names were released on Sunday.
“They were a wonderful family,” said John Santoro, James’s father, in a statement to the Associated Press. “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.”
The family had boarded the private aircraft earlier that morning from an airfield in White Plains, New York, en route to a holiday gathering in the Catskills.
According to Todd Inman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft crashed about 10 miles from Columbia County Airport at approximately 12:06 p.m. on Saturday. He noted the passengers were flying in for a family celebration and that the crash occurred in a swampy area, which has made access challenging for investigators.
The NTSB confirmed that the aircraft was intact prior to impact and had descended rapidly before the crash. While approaching the airport, the pilot reported a missed approach and requested to try again. A second approach triggered low-altitude warnings, and multiple attempts by air traffic control to contact the pilot went unanswered. No distress signal was sent from the aircraft.
Investigators said the pilot held proper FAA certifications and had years of experience flying.
The NTSB expects its preliminary investigation to take about a week, while a full report may take longer.
The tragedy has shaken the communities the family touched through their professional and academic accomplishments.
Karenna, who co-founded openPPE during the COVID-19 pandemic to help design safer masks for frontline workers, was widely respected for her leadership and innovation. Reflecting on her NCAA recognition, she once said: “This award is a testament to my MIT women’s soccer family and all of the guidance, support, and friendship they’ve given me.”
James, a math major from New Jersey and former MIT lacrosse player, worked in investment after graduating. The couple had recently moved to Manhattan, where Karenna had enrolled in NYU’s medical program.
As funeral arrangements are made, the families are remembering the impact their loved ones had in a short time.
“The 25 years we had with James were the best of our lives,” said John Santoro. “The joy and love he brought us will stay with us forever.”
