Local News
Victims Killed in Copake Plane Crash Identified
A private plane crash in Copake, New York, over the weekend claimed the lives of six individuals, including a former NCAA Woman of the Year and members of a prominent family of medical and academic professionals.
The group was en route to the Catskills for a family gathering and to observe the Passover holiday when tragedy struck.
Authorities identified the victims as 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) soccer standout Karenna Groff, her father Dr. Michael Groff, a respected neuroscientist and the pilot of the aircraft, her mother Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist, and her boyfriend James Santoro, also a recent MIT graduate.
The other two individuals aboard the plane have not yet been publicly identified.
The crash occurred just after noon on Saturday when their twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down in a muddy field in the town of Copake, near the New York-Massachusetts border.
The aircraft had taken off earlier that morning from an airport in White Plains, a suburb of New York City, and was scheduled to land at Columbia County Airport.
The crash site is located approximately 20 miles south of the intended destination.
Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore noted that emergency response efforts were hampered by the remote and muddy terrain where the aircraft went down.
“It’s in the middle of a field and it’s pretty muddy, so accessibility is difficult,” she said during a press briefing Saturday.
Family members expressed deep sorrow over the sudden and devastating loss. John Santoro, father of victim James Santoro, described the Groff family as “wonderful people” who had already made meaningful contributions to the world and had the potential to do much more.
“The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity,” he said. “We’re all personally devastated.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and is expected to release further details in the coming days. Funeral arrangements for the victims are currently underway.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both the MIT community and medical circles, as those lost were remembered not only for their achievements but for their warmth, compassion, and dedication to service.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A ground collision involving two United Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft occurred at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), prompting the cancellation of both flights and the deplaning of all passengers.
The incident took place during routine operations when one aircraft was undergoing pushback from the gate and made contact with a second 777 that was taxiing nearby.
The aircraft involved were designated as United Flight 877 and United Flight 863.
Following the collision, visible damage was reported on both aircraft.
As a safety precaution, both flights were immediately canceled. Passengers were safely deplaned, and no injuries have been reported at this time.
Airport operations were not significantly disrupted, though ground crews and airline personnel responded swiftly to secure the area and assess the extent of the damage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and are expected to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
United Airlines has issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience to passengers and confirming that safety remains its top priority.
Additional details will be provided as the investigation progresses.