Tragedy in the Skies: Punjab-Born Surgeon and Family Among 6 Killed in New York Plane Crash

A devastating plane crash in New York state has claimed the lives of six people, including a Punjab-born surgeon, her husband, and their two children along with their respective partners. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, April 12, when a Mitsubishi MU2B aircraft, piloted by Dr. Michael Groff, went down about ten miles from its intended destination — Columbia County Airport — approximately 200 kilometers from New York City. The aircraft had taken off earlier from Westchester Airport, located in a New York City suburb.

Among those killed was Dr. Joy Saini, a highly regarded urogynecologist and female pelvic reconstructive surgeon based in Boston. Born in Punjab, Saini immigrated to the United States with her family during her youth. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh, where she met her future husband, Dr. Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon. Their shared love for medicine eventually grew to include aviation, a passion that Groff developed at the age of 16 under the guidance of his father.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a formal investigation into the crash. NTSB investigator Albert Nixon revealed during a news conference on Sunday that the pilot had initially missed the approach to Columbia County Airport. Dr. Groff then requested a second attempt, but during this maneuver, the air traffic controller observed that the aircraft was flying at a dangerously low altitude. Despite repeated attempts to alert the pilot, communication failed, and the plane crashed near the Massachusetts border.

In a heartfelt statement issued by the family, the victims were named and remembered for their lives and aspirations. Alongside Saini and Groff, the couple’s daughter, Karenna Groff, a medical student with a promising future in healthcare, perished in the crash. Her partner, James Santoro, an investment banker who had plans to propose to Karenna in the near future, also lost his life in the tragedy.

The family’s son, Jared Groff, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, a law student, were also on board and did not survive. This has left a void that is impossible to fill for those who knew and loved them. The couple is survived by their younger daughter Anika Groff and Saini’s mother, Kuljit Singh, who were not on the flight.

The crash site, located in a wooded area, made recovery efforts difficult for emergency responders. Local authorities and federal aviation investigators worked through the weekend to recover the remains and collect preliminary evidence. The NTSB has stated that it could take weeks to determine the definitive cause of the crash, though weather conditions and mechanical failure are among the possible factors being reviewed.

This incident marks the second fatal aviation accident in the United States in a span of just three days. On Friday, a Cessna 310 aircraft crashed near Boca Raton, Florida, killing all three individuals on board. Just a day prior, a sightseeing helicopter carrying a family of five from Spain went down in the Hudson River off Manhattan, claiming the lives of all passengers, including the pilot.

The string of recent aviation tragedies has reignited conversations about the safety of private aircraft operations in the US, especially in variable weather conditions and densely trafficked airspace. Although Dr. Groff was described by his family as an “experienced pilot,” the tragic crash raises questions about flight planning, in-air communication, and the possibility of technical malfunctions.

The deaths of Dr. Joy Saini and her family have sent shockwaves through the medical and academic communities. Colleagues and patients of Dr. Saini mourned her loss, remembering her not just for her surgical skill and professionalism, but also her warmth and commitment to empowering women’s health. Dr. Groff was equally celebrated in the neurosurgical field for his contributions and dedication to patient care.

Karenna and Jared Groff were seen as future torchbearers of their parents’ legacy, pursuing ambitious careers in medicine and law, respectively. Their partners, James Santoro and Alexia Couyutas Duarte, were remembered as driven, kind, and full of life. The loss of six young and accomplished individuals in a single tragedy is a heartbreak too great for their communities to bear.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days as the family works through the logistics of honoring their loved ones. In the meantime, tributes have poured in from across the country, with friends, patients, and institutions expressing deep sorrow and offering support.

As the NTSB continues its probe, the nation reflects on this staggering loss of life and the fragile nature of human existence. The story of Joy Saini and her family — full of promise, brilliance, and love — serves as both a tragedy and a poignant reminder of how fleeting life can be.