Tragedy Over Upstate New York Six Lives Lost in Plane Crash

Copake, NY — April 14, 2025
The small town of Copake, nestled in the rolling hills of New York’s Hudson Valley, was shaken to its core on Saturday, April 12, when a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B plummeted into a muddy field just after noon. The crash claimed the lives of all six passengers aboard, leaving behind a community in mourning and a nation grappling with yet another aviation tragedy. As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begins its investigation, the stories of those lost—a close-knit family of physicians, scholars, and athletes—are emerging, painting a picture of lives filled with promise and purpose.

The plane took off from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, a bustling hub just north of New York City, bound for Columbia County Airport near Hudson, roughly 20 miles from the crash site. The group was reportedly headed to the Catskills for a dual celebration: a 25th birthday and the Passover holiday, a time of reflection and togetherness. Among the passengers were Dr. Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon and experienced pilot; his wife, Dr. Joy Saini, a pelvic surgeon; their daughter, Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer star and medical student; her boyfriend, James Santoro, an investment banker; their son, Jared Groff, a recent college graduate; and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte. Their journey, meant to be a joyful escape, ended in a field on Two Town Road, where the wreckage now lies as a somber reminder of life’s fragility.

Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore was among the first to address the scene’s challenges. “It’s in the middle of a field, and it’s pretty muddy, so accessibility is difficult,” she said at a press conference hours after the crash. Emergency responders worked tirelessly, navigating the slick terrain to reach the site, where the plane was described as “compressed, buckled, and embedded” in the ground. The NTSB, led by investigator Todd Inman, arrived Saturday night, and by Sunday, they had recovered critical components of the aircraft, including its upgraded cockpit instruments. Yet, the cause remains elusive, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days and a full investigation stretching up to two years.

For those who knew the passengers, the loss is immeasurable. Dr. Michael Groff, 56, was not only a skilled neurosurgeon but a passionate aviator, taught to fly by his father at 16. Colleagues at Rochester Regional Health, where he served as executive medical director of neurosciences, remembered him as a mentor whose curiosity pushed medical boundaries. His wife, Dr. Joy Saini, 54, founded Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness, dedicating her career to women’s health. Friends described her as a warm, tireless advocate who balanced her practice with a love for gardening and family.

Their daughter, Karenna, 24, was a beacon of achievement. A 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, she shone as an All-American soccer player at MIT while studying biomedical engineering. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded openPPE, designing masks for essential workers—a testament to her drive to serve. Accepted into NYU Langone’s neurosurgery program, she was poised to follow in her father’s footsteps. Her boyfriend, James Santoro, 25, was an MIT graduate and rising star at Silver Point Capital. His father, John Santoro, shared that James planned to propose to Karenna this summer, a dream now left unfulfilled. “The 25 years we had with James were the best of our lives,” John said, his voice breaking. “The world lost people who were going to do so much good.”

Jared Groff, 22, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, 23, were just beginning their journeys. Jared, a Swarthmore College alumnus, worked as a paralegal in New York, with aspirations in law. Alexia, described by friends as vibrant and kind, was carving her own path, though details of her life remain private as her family grieves. Together, the six represented a tapestry of ambition and connection, united by love and shared dreams.
The crash site, a quiet agricultural field near the Massachusetts border, has become a place of pilgrimage for locals. On Sunday, residents left flowers and notes along Two Town Road, their messages scrawled in marker: “Rest in peace,” “You are not forgotten.” Copake, with its population of just over 3,000, is no stranger to tight-knit gatherings, but this tragedy has drawn the community closer. “You don’t expect something like this here,” said Mary Thompson, a lifelong resident who runs a nearby diner. “It’s like the whole town feels the weight of it.”

As the NTSB combs through evidence, early details are emerging. The pilot, Dr. Groff, radioed air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to report a missed approach, requesting a new plan. Controllers later attempted to warn him of a low-altitude alert, but there was no response. No distress call was recorded, and a video captured by a local farmer shows the plane descending rapidly, intact but at a steep angle. Weather conditions were overcast with light rain earlier in the day, though visibility was reported at 10 miles. Whether mechanical failure, human error, or environmental factors played a role remains unclear.

This crash marks the second aviation disaster in New York within a week, following a helicopter plunge into the Hudson River on April 10 that killed six, including a Spanish family on a sightseeing tour. The proximity of these events has reignited debates over small aircraft safety. Senator Chuck Schumer, speaking Sunday, called for stricter oversight of private flights, citing the Hudson crash as evidence of lax standards. “We need to honor these lives by making sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said. Yet, experts note that general aviation, while riskier than commercial flights, remains a vital part of travel, with thousands of safe trips daily.

For the families left behind, the focus is not on policy but on memory. Funeral arrangements are underway, with services planned in Massachusetts and New Jersey, where the Groffs and Santoros have deep roots. MIT, where Karenna and James studied, announced a memorial scholarship in their names, celebrating their contributions to science and sport. At NYU Langone, Karenna’s classmates are organizing a vigil, lighting candles for a woman they called “a rising star with limitless possibilities.”

As Copake returns to its quiet rhythm, the field on Two Town Road will bear scars for years—both in the earth and in the hearts of those who pass by. The investigation will unfold slowly, piecing together data and debris, but for now, the story is one of lives cut short. Six souls, bound by family and love, took flight for a celebration and found eternity instead. Their legacy, woven through medicine, athletics, and compassion, will endure, even as the skies above remain silent.

Sources: Interviews with local residents, NTSB briefings, family statements, and FAA records.