Tragedy Strikes: Former MIT Athlete and Family Lost in NY Plane Crash

A tragic airplane accident claimed the lives of former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) athlete Karenna Groff, her parents, and her partner, as reported by the family. A private aircraft carrying six people crashed into an open field in upstate New York on Saturday, leaving no survivors, according to authorities.

The ill-fated passengers included celebrated former MIT football player Karenna Groff, her family, and her partner, based on a statement from their loved ones. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the family was traveling for a holiday gathering when the accident occurred.

A video captured the final moments of the flight, showing the aircraft intact before it plummeted to the ground at a steep angle, the NTSB reported. In a joint family message, the victims were named as Karenna Groff, parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, brother Jared Groff, his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna’s partner James Santoro.

“They were a wonderful family,” shared John’s father, James Santoro, with the Associated Press. “The world has lost several amazing individuals who would have done great things if given the chance. We are all in deep sorrow.”

Karenna, once an accomplished athlete, received the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Woman of the Year award during her senior year in 2022. She graduated from MIT, where she met James, and was pursuing medical school at New York University (NYU), her family stated.

Her parents were esteemed medical professionals, while her brother, Jared, worked as a paralegal and his partner, Alexia, was preparing to attend Harvard Law School.

Karenna displayed exceptional talent and dedication to patient care and the goals of our institution. We will fondly remember her for her warmth, grace, kindness, remarkable achievements, and the joy she brought to our community,” an NYU representative said.

The New York Times identified the plane’s pilot as Karenna’s father, Dr. Groff, who was described as “experienced” in a family statement. However, neither the family nor authorities have officially confirmed that he was piloting the aircraft.

During a press conference on Sunday, NTSB official Todd Inman reported that the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was “compressed, buckled, and embedded” in the muddy terrain of an agricultural field near Craryville, New York. The crash occurred around noon while the family was en route to Columbia County Airport.

Inman stated that air traffic control attempted multiple times to reach the pilot but received no response or distress signal. The pilot was navigating under instrument flight rules rather than visual flight rules. Whether reduced visibility from weather conditions contributed to the crash remains undetermined.

Inman noted that the plane featured an upgraded cockpit outfitted with modern technology, meeting Federal Aviation Administration standards. An ongoing investigation aims to identify the probable cause, with findings expected in the NTSB’s final report within the next 12 to 24 months.