Copake, New York – A tragic plane crash on Saturday claimed the lives of seven people, including Karenna Groff, a standout soccer player from MIT and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year. The crash occurred around noon when a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down shortly after taking off from Westchester County Airport in White Plains.

According to authorities, the plane crashed in a muddy field roughly 10 miles south of Columbia County Airport, where it was supposed to land. All individuals aboard, including Groff’s family members and her boyfriend, died in the incident. The victims included her father, Dr. Michael Groff, a neuroscientist; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist; and her brother, Jared Groff, along with his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte.

Just before the crash, the pilot contacted air traffic control, stating that he missed the initial approach and requested guidance for a new approach plan. During this time, controllers attempted to alert the pilot about the aircraft’s low altitude three times, but there was no response. Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that video footage of the crash indicated the aircraft was intact but descended rapidly before impact.

Groff, who grew up in Weston, Massachusetts, was an accomplished athlete and a co-founder of openPPE, a project that developed mask designs for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following her achievements on and off the field, she received the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2023.

After graduating from MIT, where she was an All-American soccer player and studied biomedical engineering, Karenna moved to Manhattan to attend medical school at New York University. Her boyfriend, James Santoro, who also graduated from MIT, was working as an investment associate at Silver Point, a hedge fund in Connecticut.

NTSB officials stated the plane had recently been sold and equipped with updated technology compliant with FAA standards. Investigations will continue at the crash site for about a week, while a comprehensive report on the incident may take up to two years to complete. As the community mourns this devastating loss, the memories and achievements of Karenna Groff and her family are being cherished by many.