 "Who was Joy Saini, the Indian-origin doctor killed in New York plane crash?")
An Indian-origin doctor and her family were among six people who died when a private plane tragically crashed in upstate New York over the weekend.
The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was carrying a close-knit family of doctors and student-athletes on a trip, however, the plane went down shortly after noon on Saturday in a muddy field in Copake, near the Massachusetts border, with no survivors.
Among those on board was Dr Joy Saini, a urogynaecologist originally from India, and her husband, Dr Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon. Also on the flight were their two children — Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player who was named the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, and Jared Groff, a Swarthmore College graduate working as a paralegal.
Two of their partners were also on board: Jared’s girlfriend, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, also a Swarthmore graduate who was planning to start at Harvard Law School this fall, and Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro, a recent graduate from MIT.
But who was Dr Joy Saini, and what led to this heartbreaking accident in the skies over New York? Here’s a closer look.
Who was Dr Joy Saini?
Born in Punjab, Joy Saini immigrated to the United States with her parents, Kuljit and Gurdev Singh, eventually carving out a remarkable career in medicine. She went on to found Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness, where she served as a leading voice in women’s health and surgery, according to a statement from her family.
Saini made history as the first woman in the US to receive fellowship training in urogynaecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. She completed this fellowship at New York University Medical Center, following her medical training at the University of Pittsburgh — the same place where she met her husband, Dr Michael Groff, a respected neurosurgeon and experienced pilot.
Over the years, she held several prominent roles in academic medicine. She served as an attending physician and associate fellowship program director at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center. Before that, she worked as an assistant professor and attending physician at NYU Medical Center and Indiana University Medical Center.
As for her life outside of her profession, according to her profile on the Boston Pelvic Health website, she lived in Weston with her husband, their three children, and their family dog.
She was deeply involved in her community, serving on the boards of multiple local organisations. Her personal passions included skiing, gardening, cooking, travelling, and, most of all, spending time with her loved ones.
Saini and Groff are survived by their daughter, Anika Groff; Michael’s parents, Stephen and Gebena Groff; Joy’s mother, Kuljit; and siblings Rinne Groff, Yram Groff, and Prashant Saini, along with their extended family.
What led to the plane crash?
On Saturday morning, the Groff-Saini family took off from Westchester County Airport in a private twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, piloted by Dr Michael Groff. They were headed to Columbia County Airport in upstate New York for a weekend gathering, but the plane crashed just 10 miles (16 kilometres) short of their destination near the Massachusetts border.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Groff had radioed air traffic control shortly before the crash to report that he had missed the initial landing approach. He requested a new approach plan.
While the new coordinates were being prepared, air traffic controllers issued three low-altitude alerts — but received no response. There was also no distress call from the pilot.
A Mitsubishi MU-2B crashed in a muddy field near Copake, New York, en route to Columbia County Airport and Six people were on board. #plane_crash
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) April 13, 2025
At least one person was killed, Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore said in a press conference Saturday afternoon but… pic.twitter.com/uYlgwmIrWL
Investigators later reviewed video footage showing the final moments of the flight. The aircraft appeared to be intact, but descending rapidly before crashing into the ground at a steep angle, NTSB official Todd Inman said.
The plane was found heavily damaged — “compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain” — in a muddy agricultural field, according to an AP report.
Dr Groff was flying under instrument flight rules (IFR), which means he was relying on instruments rather than visual cues. Authorities are investigating whether low visibility or weather conditions may have contributed to the crash.
Investigators are expected to remain at the crash site for several more days. A final report on the cause of the accident could take up to two years.
With input from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
