A family of high achievers died in a tragic plane crash in Upstate New York. They were flying to the Catskills to celebrate Passover and a birthday. Their small private plane went down around noon on Saturday near the town of Copake. All six people on board were killed. The crash shocked the community and everyone who knew them. These were not just regular people — they were doctors, students, and young professionals with bright futures. Their sudden deaths have left many in deep sorrow.
Plane Missed Landing Then Crashed in a Field Nearby
The family had taken off that morning from White Plains, New York. They were flying in a Mitsubishi MU2B twin-engine plane. Dr. Michael Groff, a brain doctor and skilled pilot, was flying the plane. He was trying to land at Columbia County Airport. But he missed his first approach. He asked for another try. As the plane got close again, a low altitude warning went off. Air traffic controllers tried to contact the pilot three times. He didn’t answer. The plane then fell fast and crashed into a muddy field just 10 miles short of the airport. There was no distress call before impact. Investigators say the crash happened very quickly.
Victims Were Accomplished in School, Sports, and Medicine
The people on board were Karenna Groff, her boyfriend James Santoro, her father Dr. Michael Groff, her mother Dr. Joy Saini, and two other family members. Karenna had played soccer for MIT and won many awards, including the NCAA’s Woman of the Year for 2022. She was known for her leadership on and off the field. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded a group called openPPE. They designed better masks for healthcare workers when supplies were low. After MIT, she started medical school at NYU.
Karenna’s boyfriend James was also a graduate of MIT. He studied math and played lacrosse and grew up in New Jersey and worked as an investment associate in Manhattan. He and Karenna had just moved in together and were planning their future. Dr. Michael Groff was a respected neurosurgeon. Dr. Joy Saini worked in women’s health and helped many patients. Both parents were proud of their daughter’s success. The two other family members have not yet been named publicly.
Pilot Had Many Hours of Flight Experience
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now leading the crash investigation. They say the plane was certified and safe to fly. The pilot had a valid license and many years of flight experience. The weather was not a major factor at the time of the crash. Investigators found no signs that something broke mid-air. A video showed the plane falling in one piece. It came down fast and crashed at a steep angle. The muddy field made it harder for rescue crews to reach the wreck. It may take a week or more before officials can say exactly what went wrong.
Family Was Traveling for a Joyful Celebration
The group was flying to the Catskills to be with family. They were celebrating a birthday and the start of Passover. It was supposed to be a joyful weekend full of love and tradition. Instead, the family never made it. Their plane crashed just minutes before reaching the airport. Columbia County’s Undersheriff said that the area was hard to reach because of deep mud. First responders had trouble getting equipment in and out of the crash site.
Friends and Family Are Heartbroken Over the Loss
The crash left friends and family in deep pain. James’s father, John Santoro, told reporters that the world lost amazing people. He said his son brought love, joy, and kindness to everyone he met. He called the 25 years with his son “the best years of our lives.” Many people who knew Karenna and James said they were smart, caring, and full of dreams. Social media filled with messages of sadness and memories. People talked about the good the family had already done — and the even greater things they were planning to do.
