The dead in upstate New York plane crash included 2022 NCAA woman of the year and family members
The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down shortly after noon Saturday in a muddy field in Copake, New York, near the Massachusetts line, killing all six people aboard, according to authorities and a family member who spoke to The Associated Press.
Among the victims were Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player named the 2022 NCAA woman of the year; her father, a neuroscientist, Dr. Michael Groff; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist and Karenna Groff's boyfriend, James Santoro, another recent MIT graduate, according to James' father, John Santoro.
'They were a wonderful family,' Santoro told AP. 'The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity. We're all personally devastated.'
Santoro said his son first met Groff as a freshman studying at MIT. Groff, who grew up in Weston, Massachusetts, was an All-American soccer player studying biomedical engineering. Santoro, a math major from New Jersey, played lacrosse for the school.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Groff co-founded openPPE, helping to create a new design of masks for essential workers. In 2023, she received the prestigious NCAA woman of the year award for the previous year for her on- and off-field accomplishments.
'Really, this recognition is a testament to my MIT women's soccer family and all of the guidance, support, and friendship they have provided for me over the years,' she said in an interview at the time.
After graduating, Santoro and Groff moved to Manhattan, where Groff enrolled in medical school at New York University and Santoro worked as an investment associate for Silver Point, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, Connecticut.
On Saturday morning, they traveled to an airport in White Plains, a suburb of New York City, where they boarded Michael Groff's private plane, according to John Santoro.
They were set to land at the Columbia County Airport, but crashed roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the south.
'It's in the middle of a field and it's pretty muddy, so accessibility is difficult,' Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore said at a news conference Saturday.
The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation and is expected to provide an update Sunday evening. Funeral arrangements were underway, Santoro said.
'The 25 years we had with James were the best years of our lives,' he added, 'and the joy and love he brought us will be enough to last a lifetime.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
19 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Genflow Biosciences PLC Announces Company Update on Dog Trials
Genflow Advances World's First Longevity Gene Therapy Trial in Dogs with No Adverse Effects Reported LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / August 18, 2025 / Genflow Biosciences Plc (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF) ('Genflow' or 'the Company'), the only publicly listed longevity company in Europe, provides an update on its Dog Aging (GF-1004) study, a proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of its proprietary SIRT6-centenarian gene therapy for age-related decline in elderly dogs. The randomized, controlled trial, conducted with CRO Syngene, involves 28 beagles aged 10+ years. In March, recipients received three different modalities of SIRT6 gene therapy with no ill or adverse effects, while controls remain untreated. The dogs will now enter a five-month follow-up period expected to conclude in January 2026. The strategic goal of this proof-of-concept trial is to generate compelling preclinical data that will enable a licensing agreement with a leading Animal Health company. GF-1004 is a first-in-class gene therapy candidate targeting fundamental aging mechanisms shared by both dogs and humans. By intervening at the mitochondrial and epigenetic levels, GF-1004 offers the potential to not only extend lifespan, but also improve the quality of life in companion animals, a rapidly growing, high-value market segment. Study objectives are to: 1. Confirm feasibility of GF-1004 administration in the target population. 2. Validate safety and efficacy at the proposed administered dose. 3. Demonstrate multi-dimensional benefits relevant to both clinical outcomes and consumer appeal, including: Translational Potential Since dogs and humans share conserved aging pathways, success in this trial will provide a strong foundation for expansion into human health applications, unlocking additional markets in longevity therapeutics. Dr. Eric Leire, CEO of Genflow, commented: 'Now that all dogs have received the treatment without any adverse events, we've taken an important step in confirming the treatment's safety profile. We are fully focused on advancing GF-1004 to secure a partnership with an animal health company, combining scientific and commercial expertise to pave the way for a new class of therapeutic medicines for dogs. Our shared goal is to extend the healthspan of dogs, and we believe this study will demonstrate the safety and potential efficacy of GF-1004 while opening the door to broader applications of our proprietary platform in age-related diseases in both companion animals and, ultimately, in humans.' Contacts About Genflow Biosciences Founded in 2020, Genflow Biosciences Plc. (LSE:GENF) (OTCQB:GENFF), a biotechnology company headquartered in the UK with R&D facilities in Belgium, is pioneering gene therapies to decelerate the aging process, with the goal of promoting longer and healthier lives while mitigating the financial, emotional, and social impacts of a fast-growing aging global population. Genflow's lead compound, GF-1002, works through the delivery of a centenarian variant of the SIRT6 gene which has yielded promising preclinical results. Genflow's 12-month proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating their SIRT6-centenarian gene therapy in aged dogs began in March 2025. Other programs planned for 2025, include a clinical trial that will explore the potential benefits of GF-1002 in treating MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), the most prevalent chronic liver disease for which there is no effective treatments. Please visit and follow the Company on LinkedIn and X. DISCLAIMER The contents of this announcement have been prepared by, and are the sole responsibility of, the Company. This announcement may contain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's or the Directors' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statement that refers to projections, forecasts or other characterisations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, is a forward-looking statement. The words 'anticipate', 'believe', 'continue', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'might', 'plan', 'possible', 'potential', 'predict', 'project', 'seek', 'should', 'would' and similar expressions, or in each case their negatives, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company, the business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company's actual financial condition, actual results of operations and financial performance, and the development of the industries in which it operates or will operate, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. In addition, even if the Company's financial condition, results of operations and the development of the industries in which it operates or will operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of financial condition, results of operations or developments in subsequent periods. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include regional, national or global, political, economic, social, business, technological, competitive, market and regulatory conditions. Any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement applies only as of the date of this announcement and is expressly qualified in its entirety by these cautionary statements. Factors or events that could cause the Company's actual plans or results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement is based, unless required to do so by applicable law, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA or the UK Market Abuse Regulation. This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit SOURCE: Genflow Biosciences PLC press release
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Five 'high-priority' pathogens discovered entering Australia via airplane toilets
Five high-priority pathogens and superbugs have entered Australia on international flights, an investigation of wastewater in airplane toilets has revealed. The new research, led by the national science agency, CSIRO, confirms that air travel is a key pathway for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria to enter the country. Working with an international team of university scientists, the researchers found superbugs in every one of the 44 samples. Close to a third tested positive for a gene with resistance to last resort antibiotics that had not previously been found in Australia. Dr Warish Ahmed, a principal research scientist at CSIRO, said the research indicates testing aircraft wastewater could be a significant tool for detecting the spread of new diseases. He said the data collected could be particularly important for protecting vulnerable communities. 'The samples could be delivered to labs, and we could simply run PCR tests, looking for antibiotic-resistant genes and bacteria and offer the results in a couple of days,' he told Yahoo News Australia. 'But it would need the collaboration with airlines, university research institutions and public health units to make it happen.' Related: Alarm raised after strange backyard phenomenon worsens in Aussie region Region with highest concentration of resistant microbes Eighteen of the samples taken from flights originating in South Asia had a higher concentration of antibiotic-resistant genes than those from Europe. In many parts of the continent, antibiotics can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, allowing resistance to quickly grow. Other contributors to the variation between parts of Asia and Europe could be water and sanitation, population density, and public health policies, according to lead author Dr Yawen Liu, a visiting scientist at CSIRO from China's Xiamen University. 'By monitoring aircraft wastewater, we can potentially detect and track antibiotic resistance genes before they become established in local environments,' Liu added. 🥣 Disturbing problem caused by placing five common items in dishwasher ☠️ Calls to ban 4,200 chemicals 'of concern' found in common products 😳 Beach walker stumbles up new Australian ocean predator The study began during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the group's testing of aircraft wastewater has now concluded. They found pathogens were present in wastewater despite the use of strong disinfectants in treatment systems. The study was a collaboration between CSIRO, Xiamen University, the University of South Australia and Michigan Technological University. It was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
White House AI czar David Sacks says 'AI psychosis' is similar to the 'moral panic' of social media's early days
The White House AI advisor discussed "AI psychosis" on a recent podcast. David Sacks said he doubted the validity of the concept. He compared it to the "moral panic" that surrounded earlier tech leaps, like social media. AI can create a diet plan, organize a calendar, and provide answers to an endless variety of burning questions. Can it also cause a psychiatric breakdown? David Sacks, the White House official spearheading America's AI policies, doesn't think so. President Donald Trump's AI and crypto czar discussed "AI psychosis" during an episode of the "All-In Podcast" published Friday. While most people engage with chatbots without a problem, a small number of users say the bots have encouraged delusions and other concerning behavior. For some, ChatGPT serves as an alternative to professional therapists. A psychiatrist earlier told Business Insider that some of his patients exhibiting what's been described as "AI psychosis," a nonclinical term, used the technology before experiencing mental health issues, "but they turned to it in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it supercharged some of their vulnerabilities." During the podcast, Sacks doubted the whole concept of "AI psychosis." "I mean, what are we talking about here? People doing too much research?" he asked. "This feels like the moral panic that was created over social media, but updated for AI." Sacks then referred to a recent article featuring a psychiatrist, who said they didn't believe using a chatbot inherently induced "AI psychosis" if there aren't other risk factors — including social and genetic — involved. "In other words, this is just a manifestation or outlet for pre-existing problems," Sacks said. "I think it's fair to say we're in the midst of a mental health crisis in this country." Sacks attributed the crisis instead to the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns. "That's what seems to have triggered a lot of these mental health declines," he said. After several reports of users suffering mental breaks while using ChatGPT, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the issue on X after the company rolled out the highly anticipated GPT-5. "People have used technology, including AI, in self-destructive ways; if a user is in a mentally fragile state and prone to delusion, we do not want the AI to reinforce that," Altman wrote. "Most users can keep a clear line between reality and fiction or role-play, but a small percentage cannot." Earlier this month, OpenAI introduced safeguards in ChatGPT, including a prompt encouraging users to take breaks after long conversations with the chatbot. The update will also change how the chatbot responds to users asking about personal challenges. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
