No survivors reported after plane with 6 aboard crashes in New York
Share this @internewscast.com

No survivors were reported after a private plane crashed while it was preparing for a second landing attempt in New York’s Columbia County on Saturday, officials said.

Six people traveling to Columbia County Airport in Ghent en route to a planned holiday celebration with family were on board, federal officials said at a news conference Sunday.

Family friend John Santoro said a statement to The Associated Press that his adult son, recent MIT graduate James Santoro, died in the crash.

Santoro’ statement identified the others on board: Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player named the 2022 NCAA woman of the year; her father, Dr. Michael Groff, a neuroscientist; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist; her brother, Jared Groff, a 2022 graduate of Swarthmore College who worked as a paralegal; Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared Groff’s partner, who also graduated from Swarthmore and planned to attend Harvard Law School; and James Santoro, Karenna Groff’s boyfriend.

All six were pulled from the plane and none were hospitalized, Todd Inman, member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at Sunday’s news conference.

“The aircraft was compressed, buckled and embedded into the terrain,” Inman said. “The aircraft was, in fact, crashed at a high rate of descent into the ground.”

The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2B with an experienced pilot at the controls, crashed into a field near Copake at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday, according to NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration officials. The aircraft was about 10 miles south of its destination, Columbia County Airport.

The plane was flying out of Westchester County Airport in West Harrison, just north of New York City and about 100 miles south of Ghent, NTSB officials said.

The pilot had abandoned a landing attempt and was preparing a second try when the plane hit the ground at a high speed, Inman said.

“The pilot reported a missed approach,” Albert Nixon, the NTSB investigator in charge of the crash probe, said at the news conference.

The Columbia County Airport air traffic control tower tried to contact him four times to no avail, he said. The radio contact started with an attempt to inform the pilot of a low-altitude warning, Nixon said.

The pilot remained silent, he said. “There was no distress call” before impact, Nixon said.

The pilot was flying by instrument, not visually, and there was snow on the ground, NTSB officials said. The conditions included overcast skies and a temperature of 35 degrees, according to National Weather Service data.

Investigators have reviewed video of the crash, Inman said. It wasn’t clear where exactly the video was recorded, and he indicated it was unlikely it would be released publicly.

The Mitsubishi MU-2B is a twin-turboprop aircraft with a pressurized cabin, like commercial jets, Inman said, which would allow it to fly higher and farther than many noncommercial planes.

He said the aircraft changed hands last year and at the time got “a very upgraded avionics package.”

The plane was registered to an entity called Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC, based in Weston, Massachusetts, according to FAA tail number registration information. Dr. Michael Groff is listed in state incorporation records as the entity’s sole agent and contact.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of deaths or the identities of those on board.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Charlotte man charged with Iryna Zarutska’s killing could face death penalty

Charlotte Resident Faces Potential Death Penalty in Connection with Iryna Zarutska’s Murder

The heart-wrenching case of Iryna Zarutska’s murder has taken a significant legal…
Feds say 14 arrested during chaotic immigration sweep that sparked protests on NYC's Canal Street

14 Arrested in Turbulent NYC Immigration Raid Amid Canal Street Protests, Say Feds

NEW YORK (AP) — An immigration raid on Manhattan’s bustling Canal Street…
Artist Ben Wahhh of Deluxe Tattoo started Ink Relief Program with Salt and Light Coalition to help domestic violence survivors

Empowering Survivors: Ben Wahhh’s Ink Relief Program Transforms Lives Through Art and Healing

CHICAGO (WLS) — As we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October,…
Man linked to Hamas attack on Israel indicted in Louisiana for conspiring to support terrorist group

Louisiana Man Charged with Conspiracy in Connection to Hamas Attack on Israel

A Louisiana resident has been formally charged in connection with the October…
Opening statements Wednesday in trial of ex-Illinois officer who killed Sonya Massey

Opening Statements to Begin Wednesday in Trial of Former Illinois Officer Accused of Killing Sonya Massey

In Springfield, Illinois, the courtroom is set to be the scene of…
ABC's 'World News Tonight' anchor David Muir honored by Temple University

ABC’s David Muir Receives Prestigious Honor from Temple University for Excellence in Journalism

PHILADELPHIA — Temple University recently hosted a celebration honoring outstanding achievements in…
Kim Iversen Highlights Assault Allegations in Giuffre’s Memoir

Kim Iversen Sheds Light on Explosive Assault Allegations in Virginia Giuffre’s Revealing Memoir

During a recent episode of The Kim Iversen Show, independent journalist Kim Iversen…
Dad finds 13-year-old son dead after 200-foot fall from bluff inside popular National Park site

Tragic National Park Accident: Father Discovers Son’s Fatal 200-Foot Fall

In a heart-wrenching incident in Arkansas over the weekend, a father discovered…
Fernandina Beach family pushes for intersection safety after multiple crashes

Fernandina Beach Residents Demand Urgent Intersection Safety Measures Following Frequent Accidents

A family in Fernandina Beach is calling for crucial safety enhancements at…
Massie Faces Trump-Backed Primary Challenge Kentucky Race

Massie vs. Trump: High-Stakes Showdown in Kentucky’s Pivotal Primary Race

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is preparing for a fierce primary battle…
Los Angeles teacher says ICE agents are 'not the only ones with guns' following shooting of federal agent

Los Angeles Teacher Sparks Controversy with Bold Statement on Guns After ICE Agent Shooting

A Los Angeles high school history teacher, who is a prominent voice…
Woman charged with abandoning newborn child at NYC subway stop

Newborn Found Abandoned at NYC Subway: Woman Faces Charges

Authorities in New York City have apprehended a woman accused of leaving…