Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer standout and recipient of the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award for her contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, tragically died in a plane crash in Copake, New York, along with several family members on Saturday. The pilot had requested a new landing approach before the crash, despite repeated low altitude alerts from air traffic control which went unanswered.
The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the aircraft appeared intact before crashing at a high rate of descent, as seen in video footage. Groff, known for her accomplishments both on and off the field, majored in biological engineering and co-founded openPPE in 2020 to address the shortage of masks during the pandemic. She was recognized for her academic, athletic, and humanitarian efforts through the NCAA Woman of the Year program, which celebrates graduating female college athletes who excel in academics, sports, community service, and leadership.
The crash also claimed the lives of Karenna's father, Dr. Michael Groff, mother, Dr. Joy Saini, brother Jared, as well as her boyfriend, James Santoro, and Jared's partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte. The investigation into the crash continues, with a full accident report expected to take a considerable amount of time to complete.