• Source:JND
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Dr Joy Saini, an Indian-origin urogynecologist and founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness, was one of six individuals who died in a fatal private plane crash in Copake, upstate New York, on Saturday. The victims were members of her family, all of whom were distinguished by their academic and professional success.

About Dr Joy Saini

Dr Saini was born in Punjab and immigrated to the United States with her parents, Kuljit and Gurdev Singh. She completed her medical studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where she met Michael Groff. She went on to establish Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness and gained recognition for her work on pelvic surgeries.

The family's legacy stretches across medicine, academia, and athletics. They leave behind Anika Groff, the couple's younger daughter; Stephen and Gebena Groff, Michael's parents; Kuljit Singh, Joy's mother; and several siblings, such as Rinne Groff, Yram Groff, and Prashant Saini. The accident has caused shock waves among both the Indian-American and medical communities throughout the US, where the family was highly regarded for professional output and success.

Family of High Achievers Onboard

All six victims were members of a close, high-achieving family, including:

•Dr Joy Saini, a native of Punjab, India, and top pelvic surgeon in the US
•Dr Michael Groff is a renowned neurosurgeon and pilot.
•Karenna Groff, their daughter, an MIT alumna and retired soccer player, was named NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022.
•Jared Groff, their son, is a 2022 graduate of Swarthmore College and a paralegal.
•Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared's girlfriend and Swarthmore alumna, had expected to attend Harvard Law School this fall.
•Karenna's boyfriend, James Santoro, is a recent MIT graduate.

The Crash And Investigation

The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B plane crashed in a muddy field along the Massachusetts border, about 10 miles south of its destination, Columbia County Airport, about noon, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.

The flight, which took off from Westchester County Airport, was operated by Dr Michael Groff Saini’s husband and an experienced pilot. Moments before the crash, Groff informed air traffic control that he had missed the initial approach and requested a new landing plan. Officials confirmed that a low-altitude alert was issued three times but received no response from the pilot.

"The plane looked to be intact and was descending at a high rate of speed before it crashed," NTSB spokesman Todd Inman stated. Weather and decreased visibility are under investigation as potential causes. The plane had just been equipped with a new, modern cockpit that met Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.

Authorities Continue Probe

NTSB, as well as local police, continues investigating the specific cause of the accident. Initial investigation reports no mechanical malfunction, while officials examine the flight conditions and the pilot's last transmission.

Also read: US Plane Crash: One Killed After Small Aircraft Goes Down In New York Field; FAA Initiates Probe