Family of Six Dies in New York Plane Crash

A family of six, including a Punjab-born surgeon and her husband, perished in a plane crash in New York state over the weekend. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist practicing in Boston, her husband Michael Groff, and their two children, Karenna and Jared, along with their respective partners, James Santoro and Alexia Couyutas Duarte, were all killed when the small aircraft went down near the Massachusetts border.

The crash occurred Saturday while the Mitsubishi MU2B was attempting to land at Columbia County Airport, approximately 200 kilometers from New York City. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Albert Nixon stated the pilot, Michael Groff, initially missed the landing approach and requested another attempt. Air traffic control observed the aircraft flying at a dangerously low altitude and attempted to warn him, but were unsuccessful. The plane had departed from Westchester Airport, a suburb of New York City.

Dr. Saini and Dr. Groff, a neurosurgeon, met while attending the University of Pittsburgh, where they both earned their medical degrees. The family described Dr. Groff as an experienced pilot who developed a passion for flying at age 16, learning from his father.

Karenna Groff was a medical student, and James Santoro, her partner, was an investment banker reportedly preparing to propose marriage. Jared Groff was also killed alongside his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, a law student.

The family is survived by another daughter, Anika, and Saini’s mother, Kuljit Singh.

This tragedy marks the second fatal plane crash in the United States in just three days. On Friday, a Cessna 310 crashed near Boca Raton, Florida, killing all three people on board. Earlier, on Thursday, a helicopter carrying a Spanish family of five crashed into the Hudson River off Manhattan, resulting in no survivors.

The frequency of these incidents is deeply concerning and underscores the need for continued scrutiny of aviation safety protocols and thorough investigations into the causes of these crashes. While investigations are underway, the loss of so many lives in such a short period is a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with air travel and the importance of prioritizing safety measures. The grief felt by the families and communities impacted by these tragedies is immeasurable.