Who was Joy Saini, Indian-origin doctor killed in Copake, New York plane crash?

Joy Saini, an Indian-origin doctor, was among six people killed in a plane crash in Copake, New York on Saturday

Published on: Apr 14, 2025, 06:13:44 IST

Edited by Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Joy Saini, an Indian-origin doctor, was among six people killed in a plane crash in Copake, New York on Saturday. A twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B, carrying a family of physicians and student-athletes on a trip to the Catskills for Passover, went down shortly after noon in a muddy field.

Indian-origin Dr Joy Saini and her family members died in the plane crash in Copake, New York (AP)

The Associated Press cited family sources to identify the victims as former MIT soccer player Karenna Groff, her father Dr Michael Groff; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini; her brother Jared Groff, and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and Karenna's boyfriend, James Santoro.

According to Mid Hudson News, a representative of the victims said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved family members Michael, Jared, and Karenna Groff, Joy Saini, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and James Santoro who died tragically in Saturday afternoon’s plane crash in Columbia County, New York. We will remember them as the six brilliant, dynamic, and loving people that they were.”

Who was Dr Joy Saini?

Mid Hudson News further cited family sources to add that Joy Saini was born in Punjab, India and immigrated with her parents - Kuljit and Gurdev Singh. She was a pelvic surgeon and founded Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness, championing women’s health.

Dr Saini earned her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh, where she met her husband, Michael Groff, a fellow student who became an esteemed neurosurgeon. Michael, an avid pilot since learning to fly at 16 under his father’s guidance, shared a passion for aviation. Joy and Michael leave behind their daughter, Anika; Michael’s parents, Stephen and Gebena Groff; Joy’s mother, Kuljit; and siblings Rinne Groff (married to David Becker), Yram Groff (married to Merris), and Prashant Saini (married to Jennifer Cooper), along with their extended family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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