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A private plane crashed this Saturday in the state of New York, leaving no survivors. On board the aircraft were six people, a family of doctors and student-athletes heading to the Catskill Mountains to celebrate a birthday.
Among the family members traveling in the Mitsubishi MU-2B twin-engine plane that crashed shortly after noon on Saturday in a field in Copake, New York, was Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player who was named "Woman of the Year" in 2022 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
In the plane crash, near the border with Massachusetts, also deceased were Groff's father, neuroscientist Michael Groff; the young woman's mother, Dr. Joy Saini, urogynecologist; their other son, Jared Groff, legal assistant; Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared's partner; and Karenna's boyfriend, James Santoro, a recent MIT graduate.
According to the agency AP, shortly before the accident, the pilot radioed the Columbia County airport air traffic control to report that they had lost the initial approach and requested a new plan.
While preparing the new coordinates, the air traffic controllers attempted to transmit a low altitude alert three times, but the pilot did not respond or make any distress calls.
The investigators obtained a video of the last seconds of the flight, which "appears to show that the aircraft was intact and crashed at high speed into the ground."
John Santoro, the father of Karenna's late boyfriend, told AP that the whole family was "wonderful": "The world has lost many very good people who would have done good for the world if given the chance. We are all personally devastated."
Since the beginning of the year, the United States has reported a rising number of air accidents of all kinds, many of them resulting in fatalities.
These incidents include a collision between a commercial airplane and a military helicopter near Washington, a medical transport plane that crashed in Philadelphia, and a small passenger aircraft that went down in Alaska. These events underscore the urgent need to review and enhance aviation safety standards.
This Friday, a Cessna 310 plane fell from the sky and crashed into a vehicle, resulting in three fatalities in Boca Raton, South Florida.
The accident caused a massive fire, closing several key roads in the city. Additionally, it prompted the deployment of fire crews, police, and emergency medical personnel to the scene of the incident.
Frequently asked questions about the plane crash in New York
What were the causes of the plane crash in New York?
The plane crash in New York occurred shortly after the pilot reported to the control tower that he had lost the initial approach and requested a new flight plan. The controllers attempted to warn about the low altitude, but the pilot did not respond to the calls nor issued an SOS.
Who were the victims of the plane crash in New York?
Among the victims of the plane crash was Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and the 2022 NCAA "Woman of the Year"; her father, neuroscientist Michael Groff; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini; her brother Jared Groff; Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared's partner; and James Santoro, Karenna's boyfriend. They were all a family of doctors and student-athletes.
What is the current situation regarding air accidents in the U.S.?
Since the beginning of 2025, the United States has experienced a significant increase in air accidents, both in the civil and military sectors. These incidents have highlighted the urgent need to review and improve air safety standards.
What measures are being taken to improve air security in the U.S.?
As a result of recent airline accidents, U.S. authorities are reviewing regulations and safety standards to prevent future incidents and enhance air safety. This includes assessing maintenance procedures, pilot training, and emergency protocols.
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