A private plane crash in upstate New York claimed the lives of six members of a remarkable family, including Karenna Groff, the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, her parents, brother, and their partners.
The group, bound for a birthday celebration and Passover holiday in the Catskills, perished when their twin-engine aircraft went down in a muddy field, leaving behind a legacy of academic brilliance, athletic achievement, and medical innovation.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through communities from Boston to Manhattan, where their contributions touched countless lives.
It was April 12, 2025, when the Mitsubishi MU-2B crashed shortly after noon in Copake, New York, about 10 miles south of its intended landing at Columbia County Airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, with early reports suggesting the pilot, Dr. Michael Groff, reported a missed approach before losing contact.
As tributes pour in, the loss of this close-knit family—physicians, scholars, and student-athletes—underscores the fragility of even the most promising lives.
A Family of Distinction
The victims were a constellation of talent and purpose. Karenna Groff, 24, was a former MIT soccer star who earned the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award for her athletic prowess, academic excellence, and community service.
A biomedical engineering graduate, she co-founded openPPE during the COVID-19 pandemic, designing masks for essential workers. Now a second-year medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, she was accepted into its neurosurgery program, poised to follow in her father’s footsteps.
Dr. Michael Groff, 56, a distinguished neurosurgeon and experienced pilot, was the executive medical director of neurosciences at Rochester Regional Health.
His wife, Dr. Joy Saini, 54, an India-born urogynecologist, founded Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness after training at the University of Pittsburgh, where she met Michael. Their son, Jared Groff, 24, a 2022 Swarthmore graduate, worked as a paralegal and planned to attend law school.
Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, 24, also a Swarthmore alum, was set to enroll at Harvard Law School. Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro, 24, a recent MIT graduate, worked as an investment associate at Silver Point Capital in Connecticut.
A Fateful Journey
The family boarded Michael’s private plane at Westchester County Airport in White Plains on Saturday morning, heading to the Catskills for Jared’s 25th birthday and a Passover Seder.
The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, recently upgraded with a modern cockpit, was flying under instrument flight rules. Around 12:06 p.m., Michael radioed air traffic control at Columbia County Airport, reporting a missed approach and requesting new coordinates.
Controllers attempted three low-altitude alerts, but there was no response, and no distress call was made.
The plane crashed in a flat, muddy agricultural field in Copake, near the Massachusetts border, about 50 miles south of Albany.
“The aircraft was intact but descended at a high rate,” said NTSB investigator Todd Inman, citing video evidence. The wreckage was “compressed, buckled, and embedded” in the terrain, leaving no survivors. Investigators expect to remain at the site for a week, with a full report potentially taking 12 to 24 months.
2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Among Crash Victims
Karenna Groff’s inclusion among the victims has drawn particular attention, given her extraordinary achievements. A two-time captain of MIT’s women’s soccer team, she led it to four NCAA Division III tournaments and was named an All-American.
Off the field, her work at Boston Children’s Hospital explored the genetic basis of epilepsy, aiming to develop new treatments for children. “She was a rising star with limitless possibilities,” said Steve Ritea, a spokesperson for NYU Grossman, where Karenna had already distinguished herself.
Her 2022 NCAA award, a rare honor for an MIT athlete, recognized her blend of athletics, academics, leadership, and service. “I was shocked,” Karenna told The Boston Globe in 2023, recalling her name being called from a gold envelope.
“This is a testament to my MIT women’s soccer family.” After graduating, she and Santoro moved to Manhattan, where their relationship, which began as freshmen at MIT, deepened. Santoro, who planned to propose that summer, was described by his father, John, as “devastated” by the loss of “a wonderful family.”
A Medical Legacy Cut Short
Michael and Joy’s contributions to medicine were profound. Michael, pursuing an Executive MBA at MIT’s Sloan School, was a leader in neurosurgery, known for advancing treatments at Rochester Regional Health.
Joy, a pelvic surgeon, built a practice that empowered women’s health, her warmth and expertise earning her accolades. “They met at Pitt and built a life of service,” John Santoro told The Associated Press, his voice heavy with grief.
Jared and Alexia, both Swarthmore graduates, were on the cusp of legal careers. Jared’s paralegal work at a New York hedge fund was a steppingstone to law school, while Alexia’s acceptance to Harvard Law marked her as a future trailblazer.
“The world lost people who were going to do so much good,” Santoro said, a sentiment echoed by colleagues and classmates who remembered their compassion and drive.
Communities in Mourning
The crash has reverberated across institutions tied to the victims. MIT, where Karenna and Santoro studied, issued a statement of condolence, noting Karenna’s historic NCAA honor. “
Our hearts are with their families,” said an MIT spokesperson. Swarthmore College, alma mater to Jared and Alexia, canceled classes Monday, offering counseling to students. NYU Grossman, where Karenna studied, lowered flags, with faculty praising her “unwavering passion” for patient care.
In Weston, Massachusetts, where Karenna grew up, neighbors left flowers at the Groff family home. “She was our pride,” said a local resident, recalling her throwing the first pitch at a 2023 Red Sox game.
Rochester, where Michael led neurosciences, saw an outpouring of tributes from patients. Boston’s medical community mourned Joy, whose practice had transformed lives. “They were a family of healers,” said a colleague at Boston Pelvic Health.
Investigation Underway
The NTSB’s probe is focused on several factors, though it’s too early to pinpoint a cause. Weather conditions, which may have reduced visibility, are under review, though Michael was trained for instrument flying.
The plane’s recent sale and cockpit upgrades, certified to FAA standards, add complexity to the inquiry. “We’re looking at everything—mechanical, human, environmental,” Inman said at a Sunday briefing.
Video of the crash’s final moments, showing the plane’s steep descent, has aided investigators. The absence of a distress call and the pilot’s unresponsiveness to alerts suggest a rapid sequence of events.
The wreckage, deeply embedded in the field, complicates recovery efforts. “It’s a painstaking process,” said NTSB official Albert Nixon, urging patience as the team gathers data.
A Nation Reflects
The tragedy has sparked broader conversations about aviation safety and the risks of private flights. While small plane crashes are rare, they often carry high-profile victims, amplifying their impact.
Posts on X expressed grief and admiration for Karenna’s NCAA legacy, with some calling for stricter regulations. “Such a loss,” one user wrote, sharing a photo of Karenna at Fenway Park. Others noted the cruel irony of a Passover trip—a celebration of freedom—ending in catastrophe.
Public figures weighed in, too. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called the crash “heartbreaking,” praising the family’s contributions. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a friend of Joy’s, tweeted, “Their light will endure in everyone they touched.” The NCAA issued a statement honoring Karenna, urging fans to remember her “inspiration on and off the field.”
Dreams Unfulfilled
The crash cut short a tapestry of dreams. Karenna’s path to neurosurgery, Jared’s legal ambitions, Alexia’s Harvard journey, and Santoro’s planned proposal all vanished in an instant.
Michael and Joy, whose careers spanned decades, were mentoring the next generation, their legacy intertwined with their children’s aspirations. “They were a unit,” said a family friend, speaking anonymously. “Each one amplified the others.”
For those left behind, the loss is incalculable. John Santoro, James’s father, spoke for many: “We’re all personally devastated.” Classmates launched a memorial fund at MIT, while Swarthmore planned a vigil. In Copake, residents laid wreaths near the crash site, a quiet gesture for a rural town unaccustomed to such tragedy.
A Lasting Impact
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the lives lost—not the wreckage. Karenna’s NCAA award, Michael’s surgical breakthroughs, Joy’s advocacy for women, Jared’s quiet determination, Alexia’s legal promise, and Santoro’s devotion endure in memory.
Their trip to the Catskills, meant to celebrate life, has instead left a void, but their influence persists in the institutions and hearts they shaped.
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