Punjab-born surgeon killed in US plane crash; husband was the pilot

Punjab-born surgeon Joy Saini and five of her family members were killed in a plane crash in New York. The small aircraft, which was being piloted by her husband, Michael Groff, was en route from Westchester County Airport in White Plains to Columbia County Airport. Saini had immigrated to the US with her parents.

The plane with Saini and her family members crashed just 10 miles short of its destination, according to the Associated Press.

On board were the couple’s children, Karenna and Jared Goff, Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro. Their third child, Anika, was not on the flight.

The family was headed to the Catskills for a joint birthday and Passover celebration. The plane took off Saturday morning, with the group expected to arrive by noon.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the aircraft crashed south of the intended airport. Todd Inman, an NTSB official, said the plane was “compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain.”

Moments before the crash, Michael Groff had contacted Columbia County Airport’s control tower, reporting a missed approach and requesting permission to try landing again.

A video recovered by investigators shows the aircraft intact until the final seconds before it plunged to the ground at a steep descent.

Karenna Groff, a standout athlete and biomedical engineering graduate from MIT, has received the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award. She co-founded openPPE during the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute protective equipment to frontline workers.

“Really, this recognition is a testament to my MIT women’s soccer family and all the guidance, support and friendship they have provided for me over the years,” she said in a 2023 interview.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Karenna moved to Manhattan with Santoro, a fellow MIT graduate and former lacrosse player. She had recently begun medical school at NYU, while Santoro was employed as an investment associate.

The aircraft had undergone recent cockpit upgrades and met all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. It was flying under instrument flight rules. Whether weather conditions contributed to the crash remains unknown. The NTSB will continue its investigation at the site, with a full report expected in up to two years.

In a separate development, the FAA announced on X that “New York Helicopter Tours — the company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson earlier this week — is shutting down their operations immediately.” The agency also said it would initiate an immediate review of the operator’s licence and safety record and will continue cooperating with the NTSB’s probe.

WHO WAS DR JOY SAINI?

Joy Saini, originally from Punjab, immigrated to the US with her parents, Kuljit and Gurdev Singh, as reported by Mid Hudson News.

She received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and went on to become a distinguished expert in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery.

According to her profile on BostonPelvic.com, Saini was devoted to helping women with pelvic floor disorders and played a key role in mentoring fellows in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS).

She founded Boston Pelvic Health & Wellness with a mission to create a supportive and specialized space for women’s healthcare. Her profile highlighted her commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care in a women-focused environment.

Before starting her practice, she held clinical and academic positions at institutions including the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Centre, NYU Medical Centre, and Indiana University Medical Centre.

Outside of medicine, she lived in Weston with her husband, three children, and their family dog. She served on several local boards and enjoyed skiing, gardening, travelling, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

The crash occurred shortly after Michael Groff contacted air traffic control to report a missed approach. The controller reportedly issued a low altitude alert, after which communication with the aircraft was lost. Moments later, the private plane went down in a field, as detailed by NTSB investigator Albert Nixon during a press briefing. The investigation is ongoing.