High School Senior Loses Entire Immediate Family in Upstate New York Plane Crash

Anika Groff, a high school senior, is the only surviving member of the immediate Groff family after her parents and siblings were killed in a plane crash in upstate New York. She is seen with her late sister Karenna

A high school senior from Weston, Massachusetts, has been left as the sole surviving member of her immediate family after a devastating private jet crash in upstate New York that killed six people.

Anika Groff, the youngest child of renowned neurosurgeon Michael Groff and urogynecologist Joy Saini, was not on the flight that claimed the lives of her parents and older siblings, Karenna and Jared Groff. Also killed in the crash were Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro, and Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duartem.

The Groff family had been flying to the Catskills to celebrate a birthday and Passover. They departed from White Plains, New York, aboard Michael Groff’s private aircraft. Officials have not confirmed who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.

The plane crash victims were identified as Karenna Groff (middle left), a former MIT soccer player, her boyfriend and MIT graduate James Santoro (right), Karenna's father and neuroscientist Dr. Michael Groff (left), as well as her mother and urogynecologist Dr. Joy Saini (middle right)

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that shortly before the crash, the pilot informed air traffic control at Columbia County Airport that an initial approach had been missed and requested a new approach plan. While preparing the new coordinates, controllers issued a low altitude alert three times with no response from the pilot and no distress call was made. Investigators said video footage captured the final seconds of the flight, showing the aircraft was intact before descending rapidly into the ground.

Michael Groff was a highly respected neurosurgeon, and Joy Saini, born in India, was a prominent pelvic surgeon and founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness. The couple met while studying medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Anika, seen left with a friend, recently announced she will attend the University of North Carolina in the fall

Their daughter Karenna, a former NCAA Woman of the Year recipient, graduated from MIT where she played soccer, and later enrolled in New York University’s medical school. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded openPPE, which helped design masks for essential workers. Her partner, James Santoro, was a math major and lacrosse player at MIT, later working as an investment associate in Manhattan. Jared Groff, a 2017 graduate of Weston High School, was also a beloved member of the community.

The Weston Public Schools community issued a statement expressing deep sorrow following the tragedy. “Two of our graduates, Karenna Groff (2018) and Jared Groff (2017), their parents, and several friends were killed in a small plane crash in New York yesterday. Their lives ended far too soon, and our hearts are with all those who are grieving this unimaginable and sudden loss,” the statement read.

Karenna was a celebrated student-athlete named NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022.

The district acknowledged that one member of the family remains enrolled in high school and urged the community to respect her privacy. “Our role as a school community is to surround them with quiet care, compassion, and space to heal.”

James Santoro’s father, John Santoro, expressed his grief, saying, “Still couldn’t believe it was true. I still don’t believe it’s true. They were a wonderful family. 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. We’re all personally devastated. The 25 years we had with James were the best years of our lives, and the joy and love he brought us will be enough to last a lifetime.”

Anika Groff had recently announced her plans to attend the University of North Carolina in the fall.

Authorities are still investigating the crash