A tragic plane crash on Saturday in New York has left a deep sense of sorrow. A private aircraft that was heading for a weekend birthday celebration crashed, killing all six members of the same family on board. Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore confirmed the incident.

The twin-engine MU-2B aircraft, heading to Columbia County Airport, crashed into a field. Jacqueline Salvatore revealed that the Mitsubishi MU-2B took off towards the Columbia County Airport but due to unfavorable weather conditions, it crashed around 30 miles from Copake. Just before the crash, the pilot had contacted air traffic control at Columbia County Airport via radio, stating he was in trouble and requested a new approach method. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials mentioned this in a Sunday briefing and are currently investigating the cause.

Among the victims was Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist of Indian origin, her husband Dr. Michael Graf, a neuroscientist, their son Jared Graf, daughter Karenna Graf (a former MIT soccer player and 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year), Karenna's husband, and Jared’s partner Alexia Coyutas Duarte, a paralegal. Dr. Saini, originally from Punjab, India, migrated to the U.S. with her parents Kuljit and Gurdev Singh. She was a renowned pelvic surgeon and founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness. She married Michael Graf while studying medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. This tragic loss has left behind Saini’s other daughter Anika Graf, Michael's parents Stephen and Gebena Graf, Joy’s mother Kuljit, and siblings Rinne Graf, Yram Graf, and Prashant Saini in deep mourning.