Former MIT soccer player Karenna Groff died in a plane crash on Saturday (12) involving a private jet. Five other family members died in the crash.
Karenna Groff died in a private plane crash in New York on Saturday (12). Her parents, boyfriend, brother, and sister-in-law were also involved in the accident. No one survived.
According to relatives from the three families, they were heading to Columbia County Airport to celebrate a birthday.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved family members. We will remember them as the six brilliant, dynamic, and loving people they were,” they wrote.
Michael Groff, neuroscientist and father of Karenna Groff, was piloting the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B. On board were his wife, urogynecologist Joy Saini, and their other son, Jared Groff.
Also aboard were James Santoro, Karenna’s boyfriend, and Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared’s girlfriend.
According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Albert Nixon, the pilot had missed the approach at the destination airport and requested instructions for another attempt.
The air traffic control radar warned of the aircraft’s low altitude. The controller was unable to reach the pilot after three unsuccessful attempts.
The investigation is expected to continue for 30 days to produce a preliminary report, while the final report may take 1 to 2 years to complete.
Karenna Groff was studying medicine and played soccer for the MIT team.
Photos: Facebook Placantonakis Lab Instagram @mitathletics. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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