Karenna Groff Dies in Tragic New York Plane Crash with Family Members

Karenna Groff dies future was as bright as they come. A former soccer star at MIT, a brilliant biomedical engineering student, a compassionate innovator during the pandemic, and a rising medical student at NYU — she had already achieved so much by 25. But on Saturday, April 12, that light was extinguished far too soon.

Karenna was one of seven people killed when a private plane crashed in a field in Copake, a small town in upstate New York. On board with her were her parents, her brother, her brother’s partner, and her longtime boyfriend — a close-knit group of high-achieving, deeply loved individuals whose lives ended in one heartbreaking moment.

A Day That Began with Hope

That morning, the Groff family had gathered at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York. They boarded a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, a plane piloted by Karenna’s father, Dr. Michael Groff, a skilled neurosurgeon and licensed aviator.

The plan was simple — a short flight to Columbia County Airport, about 90 miles away. But they never made it. About 10 miles short of the runway, something went terribly wrong. The plane crashed into a muddy field, killing everyone on board instantly.

The Final Moments

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot had radioed air traffic control to say he had missed his approach and needed new directions to land. As controllers worked to assist, they tried three times to warn the plane it was flying too low — but there was no response. No distress call came.

Investigators later reviewed footage that showed the plane was intact moments before it hit the ground at a steep, deadly angle. The impact crushed the aircraft, embedding it in the soft terrain.

While weather conditions are being looked at, officials say the pilot was flying under “instrument flight rules,” meaning he was relying on cockpit instruments rather than outside visibility. It’s too soon to say what caused the crash, and a full investigation could take up to two years.

Who We Lost

The lives lost in the crash weren’t just names on a passenger list — they were people loved deeply by their communities, friends, and colleagues.

Karenna Groff was the heart of the story. She grew up in Weston, Massachusetts, and made her mark early as an elite athlete and scholar. At MIT, she played forward for the women’s soccer team, earning All-American honors while studying biomedical engineering. Her brilliance on and off the field earned her the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2022 — one of the most prestigious honors in college athletics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded openPPE, a nonprofit effort to create and distribute improved protective masks for frontline workers. Karenna didn’t just chase excellence — she used it to help others.

“She had the brain of an engineer, the heart of a doctor, and the soul of a teammate,” said one former coach. “She was the kind of person you only meet once in a lifetime.”

Karenna’s father, Dr. Michael Groff, was a well-known neurosurgeon. Her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, specialized in women’s health. Her brother Jared, a Swarthmore College graduate, worked as a paralegal in New York. Jared’s girlfriend, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, also from Swarthmore, had just been accepted to Harvard Law School. Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro — another MIT alum — had studied mathematics and played lacrosse. He now worked in finance while Karenna began medical school at NYU.

“They were building a life together in Manhattan,” said James’s father. “Karenna was part of our family. She and James were a team in every sense of the word.”

Source: Former NCAA woman of year Karenna Groff dies in plane crash

An Unimaginable Loss

News of the crash spread quickly across the country — and across campuses. At MIT, professors, classmates, and coaches expressed deep grief.

“She was the definition of what a student-athlete should be,” said one MIT faculty member. “But more than that, she was kind. She lifted up everyone around her.”

Swarthmore College released a statement mourning the loss of Jared and Alexia, calling them “brilliant, compassionate people who were just getting started in life.”

In Weston, Karenna’s hometown, hundreds gathered on the soccer field where she once played. Friends, neighbors, and former teammates held candles and shared memories. Many couldn’t hold back tears.

“We watched her grow up,” one neighbor said. “She had everything ahead of her — a career in medicine, a loving relationship, a family that adored her. It’s just so unfair.”

What Comes Next

The NTSB is still collecting information and expects to remain at the crash site for several more days. The wreckage will be taken to a secure location for a full analysis. Investigators are combing through maintenance records, flight logs, and weather data to determine what happened.

Though it’s unclear who was officially piloting the plane, it’s widely believed to have been Dr. Michael Groff. He had extensive flying experience and had owned the aircraft for some time. The plane had recently been upgraded with modern cockpit technology and met FAA safety standards.

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” NTSB investigator Todd Inman told reporters. “We know the plane was flying under instrument rules, and that the approach was missed. But beyond that, we have a lot of work to do.”

Carrying On Her Legacy

In the wake of tragedy, there’s one thing everyone agrees on: Karenna Groff’s legacy will not be forgotten.

Plans are already underway for a scholarship fund in her name — one that will support young women pursuing careers in biomedical engineering and collegiate athletics. MIT is also considering a memorial at its athletic center in her honor.

“She was a light,” said one of her MIT teammates. “If you knew her, even just for a little while, she left a mark on you.”

Karenna had dedicated her life to helping others — whether through science, sports, or public health. And while her time was cut short, the impact she made will ripple for years to come.

As her friends, family, and community continue to mourn, they hold tight to the memories: of her chasing down balls on the soccer field, studying late into the night, laughing with her teammates, building a future with James, and choosing a life of purpose.

Read More: On Masters Weekend, Jackson Jobe Grabs 1st MLB Win for Detroit