In brief
A private plane crash in an open field near Craryville, New York, on Saturday has tragically claimed the lives of all six passengers aboard, including former MIT football standout Karenna Groff, along with her parents, brother, and his partner. The family was en route to a holiday celebration when their aircraft descended rapidly, leaving no survivors. Authorities have initiated an investigation, with initial reports indicating that the plane's experienced pilot, believed to be Dr. Groff—Karenna’s father—may have lost communication with air traffic control just before the accident occurred.
In a joint family statement, the victims were identified as Karenna Groff, her parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, brother Jared Groff and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna's partner James Santoro. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, which follows another fatal crash in the region just days prior.Karenna Groff, honored as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022, was a medical student at NYU. Her loss, alongside her family members, has left friends and colleagues mourning the potential future they could have contributed to society.Agency officials are assessing factors such as weather conditions and flight protocols to establish the cause of the crash, with an final report expected in the next year.
