News Summary
A private plane crash in Copake, New York, resulted in the tragic loss of six individuals, including a family of physicians and talented student-athletes. The plane was en route to a birthday celebration and Passover holiday when it went down shortly before reaching its destination. The identities of the victims have been revealed, each of whom contributed significantly to their communities through sports and medicine. The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation into the incident, which is expected to take several months to conclude.
Tragic Plane Crash in Upstate New York Claims Lives of Family of Physicians and Student Athletes
In a heartbreaking incident that has left the community reeling, a private plane crash in Copake, New York, on Saturday claimed the lives of all six individuals on board. This close-knit group, made up of a family of physicians and talented student-athletes, was on their way to the beautiful Catskills for a double celebration: a milestone 25th birthday and the cherished Passover holiday.
The Plane and Flight Details
Officials stated that the ill-fated aircraft was a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B. The journey began at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, with plans to land at Columbia County Airport. Unfortunately, the aircraft went down in a muddy field just about 20 miles south of its intended destination, around noon.
Before the crash, the pilot had communicated with air traffic control, indicating issues with the initial approach and requesting a revised flight plan. Despite air traffic control’s efforts to reach the aircraft with low altitude alerts on three separate occasions, there was no response or signal of distress from the pilot.
Victims Identified
The victims of this tragic accident include:
- Karenna Groff – A former MIT soccer player who was recently honored as the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year.
- Dr. Michael Groff – A distinguished neuroscientist and pilot of the plane.
- Dr. Joy Saini – A dedicated urogynecologist.
- Jared Groff – Karenna’s brother and a recent graduate of Swarthmore College.
- Alexia Couyutas Duarte – Jared’s partner who had plans to attend Harvard Law School.
- James Santoro – Karenna’s boyfriend and a recent MIT graduate.
A Community in Mourning
The loss of these individuals is deeply felt within their community. One grieving family member poignantly remarked that the world has lost many brilliant and kind-hearted people, who had so much potential to make significant contributions to society. Each of the victims had touched lives in various ways, from sports to medicine, and even in social initiatives. Notably, Karenna was an All-American soccer player and co-founder of openPPE, an organization that produced masks for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While pursuing her studies in biomedical engineering at MIT, she had already made a remarkable impact.
James Santoro was also making waves, having graduated with a degree in math and played lacrosse at MIT before stepping into the work world as an investment associate. The passion each of these individuals brought to their pursuits leaves a lasting legacy, resulting in an immense sense of loss for family and friends.
Ongoing Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has commenced an investigation into the crash, which is expected to keep their team on-site for approximately a week. Investigators have analyzed video footage that shows the aircraft intact before it descended at a high rate of speed before crashing. Upon impact, the plane was described as being “compressed, buckled, and embedded in the terrain” of the field.
It is noted that this aircraft had been sold just a year prior and had undergone updates to its cockpit, which met FAA standards. However, a complete accident report is anticipated to take between 12 to 24 months to finalize.
Funeral Arrangements Underway
As the community mourns this tragic loss, funeral arrangements for the victims are currently being organized, offering family and friends a chance to come together and celebrate the lives of those lost. In this time of grief, the love and joy they brought into the lives of others will undoubtedly remain a treasured memory.
As the investigation unfolds and the community processes this truly sad event, the collective memory of these extraordinary individuals will live on, reminding everyone of the preciousness of life.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- NBC New York
- Google Search: New York plane crash
- CBS News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Air Crash Investigation
- Hindustan Times
- Google News: Copake plane crash
