The authorities published the identities of the six people tragically killed in a New York plane crash on Saturday, including a very acclaimed former student athlete.
The six victims, most of which were related, died around 12:15 pm local time on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plane, a MITSUBISHI MU-2B, He was on his way to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York, when he crashed into an open and muddy field in Copake, about ten miles to the south.
Karenna Groff, former soccer player of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who was named Woman of the Year of the NCAA in 2022, was one of the deceased, as well as her two parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini. Groff had been studying medicine at New York University at that time.
His brother, Jared Groff, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, were also killed on the flight. Karenna Groff’s boyfriend, James Santoro, was aboard the flight and also died.
6 dead, including 3 children, after the helicopter collapsed in the Hudson River
Dr. Michael Groff, Karenna Groff, Dr. Joy Saini and James Santoro were killed in Saturday’s plane crash. (WXXA / John Santoro through AP)
The six had approached the plane at Westchester County airport at White Plains that morning. Shortly before the accident, the pilot had a radio air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to say that he had lost the initial approach and requested a new approach plan.
Air traffic controllers prepared new coordinates and tried to send a low altitude alert three times to the pilot, which did not respond.
The authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident, which can take up to 24 months to complete.
‘Everything is on the table’ while NTSB investigates the Hudson River Mortal helicopter clash
NCAA 2022 Woman of the year Karenna Groff, seen here on April 3, 2023, was tragically killed in Saturday’s plane crash. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
The plane, which was a private plane owned by Michael Groff, was discovered “compressed, fastened and embedded in the field” of the Fangoso field, said NTSB officer, Todd Inman, in an informative session on Sunday.
Inman also said that the authorities obtained a video of the flight, which seemed to show that the plane was intact “and crashed at a high descent rate to the ground.”
The native of New Jersey, James Santoro and Karenna Groff, were killed in the plane crash. The two lived in New York City. (Courtesy John Santoro through AP)
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The NTSB also said that the plane had a recently updated cabin with newer technology certified by the FAA, and that the pilot flew under instrument flight rules instead of visual flight rules.
James’s father, John Santoro, expressed sadness for the tragedy and described the Groffs as a “wonderful family” for Associated Press.
Karenna Groff was appointed Woman of the Year of the NCAA 2022 while attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)
“The world lost many very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity,” said the afflicted father. “We are all personally devastated.”
