**Tragic Plane Crash in New York Claims Six Lives, Including Acclaimed Athlete**
Authorities have identified the six individuals who lost their lives in a devastating plane crash in New York on Saturday, including a celebrated former student athlete. The victims, many of whom were family members, perished around 12:15 p.m. local time, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, was headed to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York, when it went down in an open, muddy field in Copake, approximately ten miles to the south.
Among the deceased was Karenna Groff, a former soccer player at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022. At the time of the crash, she was pursuing a medical degree at New York University. Also on board were her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, her brother Jared Groff, and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte. Tragically, Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro, was also among the victims.
The group had boarded the plane earlier that morning at Westchester County Airport in White Plains. Just before the crash, the pilot communicated with air traffic control at Columbia County Airport, indicating that he had missed the initial approach and requested a new plan. Despite air traffic controllers preparing new coordinates and attempting to send a low altitude alert three times, the pilot did not respond.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and may take up to 24 months to complete. The aircraft, owned by Michael Groff, was found “compressed, buckled, and embedded in the terrain” of the muddy field, according to NTSB official Todd Inman. Authorities have also obtained video footage of the flight, which suggested that the aircraft was intact before crashing at a high rate of descent.
The NTSB noted that the plane was equipped with a recently upgraded cockpit featuring newer FAA-certified technology, and the pilot was operating under instrument flight rules rather than visual flight rules.
James Santoro’s father, John Santoro, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the Groff family as “wonderful.” He lamented the loss, stating, “The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity. We’re all personally devastated.”
**FAQ**
**What caused the plane crash in New York?**
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and it may take up to 24 months to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
