A devastating plane crash in upstate New York claimed the lives of six family members, including prominent doctors and promising young MIT student-athletes. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft was en route to the Catskills for a birthday and Passover celebration when it went down in a muddy field near Copake, leaving no survivors. Among the victims were Karenna Groff,
an MIT All-American soccer player and 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year; her boyfriend, James Santoro, an MIT graduate; her father, Dr. Michael Groff, a leading neurosurgeon; and her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist. The crash occurred shortly after the pilot missed an approach and requested a new flight plan. Despite multiple warnings from air traffic control about the plane’s dangerously low altitude, no distress signal was received before the aircraft plunged into the ground. Investigators confirmed the pilot was experienced and the aircraft was certified, though the final cause remains under investigation.The tragedy adds to a troubling string of fatal aviation incidents in 2025. Families of the victims are mourning the sudden loss of loved ones described as exceptional individuals destined to make a difference in the world. Karenna Groff had recently co-founded a PPE initiative during the pandemic and was studying at NYU Medical School,
while Santoro had begun a career in finance in Manhattan. Their story was one of shared ambition, talent, and love—cut short far too soon. “The world lost a lot of very good people,” said James’s father, John Santoro, as tributes poured in for the family. The loss has left their communities heartbroken, remembering not just what they achieved, but all they could have become.
