Authorities released the identity of the six people who were tragically killed in a New York aircraft accident on Saturday, including a highly recognized former student athlete.
The six victims, most of whom were related, died around 2 p.m. 12:15 Local Time on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, Was on its way to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York as it crashed into an open, muddy field in Copake, about ten miles south.
Karenna Groff, a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Footballer, who was appointed NCAA woman in the year in 2022, was one of the decenters, as well as both her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini. Groff had studied medicine at New York University at that time.
Her brother, Jared Groff, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, were also killed on the flight. Karenna Groff’s girlfriend, James Santoro, was aboard the flight and died as well.
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Dr. Michael Groff, Karenna Groff, Dr. Joy Saini and James Santoro were all killed in Saturday’s plane crash. (WXXA / John Santoro via AP)
The six had on board the plane at Westchester County Airport in White Plains earlier that morning. Shortly before the crash, the pilot had radiated air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to say he had missed the preliminary approach and requested a new approach plan.
Air traffic controllers prepared new coordinates and tried to send a low height alarm three times to the pilot which did not respond.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, which can take as many as 24 months to complete.
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NCAA 2022 Karenna Groff of the Year, seen here on April 3, 2023, was tragically killed in Saturday’s plane crash. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
The aircraft, which was a private aircraft owned by Michael Groff, was discovered “compressed, tense and embedded in the terrain” in the muddy field, NTSB -Official Todd Inman said in an orientation on Sunday.
Inman also said the authorities achieved video of the flight, which appeared to show that the aircraft was intact “and crashed with a high descent into the ground.”
The natives of New Jersey James Santoro and Karenna Groff were both killed in the aircraft accident. The two lived in New York City. (Courtesy John Santoro via AP)
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NTSB also said the aircraft had a recently upgraded cockpit with newer FAA-certified technology and that the pilot is flying under instrument airplanes instead of visual airplanes.
James’ father, John Santoro, expressed grief over the tragedy and described Groffs as a “wonderful family” to Associated Press.
Karenna Groff was appointed 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year while attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)
“The world lost many very good people who would do very well for the world if they had the opportunity,” said the grieving father. “We are all personally destroyed.”
