A high school senior’s life was plunged into tragedy after her entire family was killed in a private jet crash in upstate New York on Saturday.
Anika Groff did not accompany her family on the plane that tragically crashed in Copake, near the Massachusetts border. Her parents, neuroscientist Michael Groff and urogynecologist Joy Saini, were killed alongside her two older siblings Karenna and Jared Groff.
Anika Groff’s attendance in the same Massachusetts school her eldest siblings graduated from was confirmed in a statement from the Weston school district obtained by the DailyMail.
“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.
“Out of respect for the family and especially for our student who is grieving the loss of her loved ones, we ask that all members of our community honor their privacy during this deeply personal time. Our role as a school community is to surround them with quiet care, compassion, and space to heal.”
James Santoro, Karenna’s boyfriend, and Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duartem, were also killed in the crash.
Karenna Groff and James Santoro, both MIT graduates, found success in New York City studying medicine and pursuing finance, respectively. The couple was reportedly planning on getting engaged this summer.
“They were a wonderful family,” said John Santoro, James’ father. “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.”
Michael Groff was an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and served as executive director of neuroscience at Rochester Regional Health on top of being an experienced pilot. He met Saini, founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness, while she was training in medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, according to a family statement.
Couyutas Duartem and Jared Groff were both graduates of Swarthmore College, Michael Groff’s alma mater. They both worked as paralegals and Jared Groff had plans to attend law school in the fall, according to a statement from Swarthmore College.
Anika Groff was accepted into Swarthmore College, according to the statement, but she announced that she would be attending the University of North Carolina before the crash.
The private jet was embarking from a White Plains airport on a trip to the Catskills for a birthday and Passover celebration when it spiraled into a “pretty muddy” field on Saturday.
The plane had flown for less than an hour before, with no issues found, a National Transportation Safety Board member told reporters Monday.
The pilot, whose name has not been released, radioed air traffic control about rerouting after missing the initial approach to Columbia County Airport.
Air traffic controllers tried to radio back later on noting a low altitude warning, but never heard back from the pilot. No distress call was ever made, officials said.
With Post wires
