Six Dead in NY Plane Crash, NTSB Investigates

A tragic plane crash in Copake, New York, resulted in the deaths of six people, including Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year. The victims, part of a close-knit family traveling for a birthday celebration and the Passover holiday, included her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared Groff, his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and her boyfriend James Santoro. The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, piloted by a certified individual, crashed shortly after the pilot reported a missed approach to Columbia County Airport and requested a new landing plan. Despite air traffic controllers' attempts to alert the pilot about a low altitude, there was no response or distress signal before the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, which may take up to 24 months to complete. The victims were celebrated for their contributions to academics, medicine, and community service, including Karenna Groff's co-founding of openPPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.