Former college football player Karenna Groff, acclaimed as the 2022 NCAA woman of the year, tragically lost her life in a private plane crash in New York state. The crash, which claimed the lives of all six individuals on board, including Karenna’s neuroscientist father, Dr. Michael Groff, her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, her brother, Jared Groff, and her boyfriend, James Santoro, occurred in Copake near the Massachusetts border. Karenna’s boyfriend’s father, John Santoro, lamented the loss, emphasizing the profound impact the victims had on their loved ones and the potential they had to make a positive difference in the world.

The group had departed from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, bound for Columbia County Airport, but the aircraft crashed during an attempted landing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, with initial findings suggesting a missed approach led to the crash. Video footage of the final moments of the flight indicates a rapid descent before impact. The NTSB anticipates a comprehensive report on the accident within the next 12 to 24 months.

This devastating event follows another recent aviation tragedy involving a family of five Spanish tourists in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River. The loss of Karenna Groff and her family has deeply affected those who knew them, leaving a void in both their personal lives and the potential contributions they could have made to society. The aviation community mourns these tragedies and underscores the importance of safety and vigilance in air travel.