NCAA woman of the year among those killed in New York plane crash: 'Lost a lot of very good people'

At least one person is dead after a plane carrying six people crashed in an open field in New York on Saturday afternoon. (Credit: WXXA)

Authorities released the identities of the six people tragically killed in a New York plane crash on Saturday, including a highly-acclaimed former student athlete.

The six victims, most of whom were related, died at around 12:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, was en route to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York, when it crashed into an open, muddy field in Copake, around ten miles south.

Karenna Groff, a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) soccer player who was named the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022, was one of the decedents, as well as both of her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini. Groff had been studying medicine at New York University at the time.

Her brother, Jared Groff, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, were also killed on the flight. Karenna Groff's boyfriend, James Santoro, was aboard the flight and died as well.

6 DEAD, INCLUDING 3 CHILDREN, AFTER HELICOPTER PLUMMETS IN HUDSON RIVER

Dr. Michael Groff, Karenna Groff, Dr. Joy Saini and James Santoro were all killed in the Saturday plane crash. (WXXA / John Santoro via AP)

The six had boarded the plane at Westchester County Airport in White Plains earlier that morning. Shortly before the crash, the pilot had radioed air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to say that he had missed the initial approach and requested a new approach plan. 

Air traffic controllers prepared new coordinates and attempted to send a low altitude alert three times to the pilot, who did not respond.

Authorities are