NEW YORK (AP) A small plane heading for upstate New York tragically crashed this past weekend, resulting in the devastating loss of six lives. Among the passengers were two pairs of close-knit siblings, along with their parents, all of whom were poised to embark on a new chapter in their lives, marked by personal and professional achievements.

One of the deceased, Karenna Groff, a former collegiate soccer star at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was celebrating her 25th birthday. She was accompanied by her longtime boyfriend, James Santoro, an investment banker with whom she intended to get engaged later this summer. The couple was joined on this ill-fated journey by Karenna's older brother, Jared Groff, aged 26, who had previously played basketball at Swarthmore College and was also planning to propose to his girlfriend, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, a 24-year-old native of Colombia who was set to begin her studies at Harvard Law School in the fall.

Tragedy struck shortly after noon on Saturday when the twin-engine aircraft they were traveling in crashed into a muddy field in Copake, New York, leading to the untimely deaths of both couples as well as Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, the parents of Karenna and Jared, who were both well-respected surgeons in their fields. John Santoro, the father of James Santoro, expressed the collective grief felt by many, stating, They were all so accomplished, but it was never about their accomplishments... Im sad for myself and my family, but Im sad for everyone else whove lost them too.

The tragic flight was piloted by Michael Groff, who had left the Boston suburbs early Saturday morning. After picking up Karenna and James at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, the plane headed north toward the beautiful Catskills region. It was reported that just minutes before the planned landing, Michael Groff communicated with air traffic control at Columbia County Airport, indicating that he had missed the initial approach. Unfortunately, as the air traffic controllers tried to provide new coordinates and issued a low-altitude warning, there was no response from the pilot.

At a press briefing on Monday, Todd Inman, an official with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), revealed that overcast weather conditions may have impaired the pilot's visibility, though the precise cause of the crash remains under investigation. Initial findings have not indicated any mechanical issues with the aircraft, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, further adding to the mystery surrounding this tragic accident.

The heartbreaking incident has sparked an outpouring of grief from friends and community members. Those who knew Michael Groff described him as a skilled and experienced pilot who began flying as a teenager. He frequently made the trip to his sisters country house in upstate New York and had completed an additional safety course in October, which was a requirement for operating the high-performance plane.

Michael and Joy were wonderful, warm parents and distinguished physicians who treasured their children, said family friend Jonathan Becker. Their youngest daughter, Anika, was not on the flight, which has provided a small solace in the midst of this overwhelming sorrow.

Karenna Groff stood out as a remarkable student athlete at MIT, where she was honored as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022 for her extraordinary athletic and academic accomplishments, which included publishing peer-reviewed papers on epilepsy and global health equity. After completing her undergraduate studies, she extended her time at MIT to attain a masters degree in biomedical engineering. Last summer, she and James moved into a Manhattan apartment, where they enjoyed hosting friends and family, embracing the vibrancy of city life. James and Karenna loved living in the city, John Santoro reminisced. My son would be walking for hours, for miles just to be part of it.

Jared Groff was equally celebrated among his friends for his lively spirit and athletic prowess, having scored over 1,000 points as a point guard at Weston High School in Massachusetts before attending Swarthmore College. There, he met Couyutas Duarte, who was pursuing a dual major in economics and political science. Her experiences growing up on the border between Colombia and Venezuela motivated her passion for aiding others in navigating migration challenges. That was one of the main things that drove her to focus on immigration law, her sister, Maria Claudia Couyutas Duarte, shared with the AP. She saw what she had here as a privilege to support others who needed us.

Just a day before the tragic crash, Couyutas Duarte had participated in an event for accepted students at Harvard Law School, a dream she had long aspired to fulfill. That was her dream to go to Harvard, her sister reflected. Weve never even met anyone whos ever gone to Harvard. It was so outside of her reach, and yet she made it happen.

Authorities have stated that they expect to fully recover the wreckage of the aircraft by Tuesday night. A preliminary report detailing the potential causes of the crash is slated to be released within the next 30 days.