A British couple celebrating their honeymoon in Greece were killed when their private helicopter crashed and burst into flames as it approached a helipad on the island of Sifnos.
Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, both believed to be in their early 30s and living in London, died alongside their pilot, 55-year-old Giorgos Raikos, in the devastating accident on Monday evening.
The couple had hired the private air taxi from Athens as they travelled to Sifnos, a popular Cycladic island known for its beaches and whitewashed architecture.
Helicopter Spun Out of Control Before Impact
CCTV footage captured the final moments of the Bell 206 aircraft, showing it apparently rotating erratically in mid-air before rapidly losing altitude.
The helicopter then slammed into the ground close to the island’s heliport at around 6.15pm local time, with parts of the aircraft reportedly thrown into the air on impact.
The wreckage was immediately engulfed in flames, sending a thick column of smoke into the sky.
Local residents said they heard an unusual and unusually loud noise coming from the helicopter shortly before the crash.
Pilot Reportedly Lost Radio Contact
The circumstances surrounding the final moments have raised questions about what happened inside the aircraft.
According to reports in the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, Raikos had informed the relevant authorities that he was preparing to land after departing from the wider Markopoulo area.
That communication was followed by an unexplained period of radio silence.
A senior Athens police official said the helicopter crashed only minutes before its scheduled 6.15pm landing, with its onward departure expected around 25 minutes later.
The aircraft had reportedly been due to complete its approach when the disaster occurred.
Mechanical Failure Under Investigation
Early reports have pointed to a possible mechanical failure while the helicopter was in the air, although investigators have yet to establish the definitive cause of the crash.
Manolis Fountoulakis, deputy mayor of Sifnos, said residents had described hearing a strange noise before the helicopter went down.
He told Greek news outlet NewsIT that there was almost nothing recognisable left of the aircraft after the impact, describing the wreckage as a shapeless mass.
Two bodies were reportedly recovered from inside the wreckage, while another was found several yards away.
Initial reports had suggested the helicopter crashed immediately after take-off, but Greek authorities and local media later corrected that account.
Emergency Crews Battled the Flames
The Greek Fire Service was alerted at approximately 6.17pm, shortly after the crash.
Two firefighters and a fire engine were dispatched to tackle the flames, while a rescue team travelled to the scene aboard a Fire Brigade high-speed boat.
Despite the rapid emergency response, rescuers were unable to save the three people aboard the helicopter.
Authorities said the crash did not strike any nearby homes and there were no reports of additional casualties.
Experienced Pilot Among Those Killed
Raikos was reportedly a retired Greek Air Force officer with extensive aviation experience.
Local reports said he had previously flown military Chinook helicopters and was married with three children.
It has also been reported that he had only been hired by the company operating the air taxi around two months before the fatal flight.
The circumstances surrounding his employment and the aircraft’s condition are expected to form part of the wider investigation.
Greek Authorities Launch Formal Investigation
The National Organisation for the Investigation of Air and Railway Accidents and Transport Safety has opened an investigation into the crash, according to Greece’s Ministry of Transport.
Investigators will examine the helicopter’s mechanical condition, maintenance history, flight data and the events leading up to the loss of radio contact.
Authorities will also seek to establish why the aircraft began spinning shortly before reaching the helipad.
Sifnos Community Left Shocked
Sifnos mayor Maria Nadali described the incident as a deeply shocking event for the island.
She said local authorities were working with the relevant emergency and investigative services to deal with the aftermath of the crash near the helipad.
Sifnos covers around 73 square kilometres and has a population of fewer than 1,000 people.
The island is a popular summer destination in the Cyclades, attracting visitors to its sandy beaches and landmarks including the distinctive Chrysopigi Monastery.
The fatal crash has therefore struck a community accustomed to welcoming tourists during the busy summer season.
Foreign Office Offers Consular Support
The British Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities following the deaths and was seeking further information.
Officials also said they were prepared to provide consular assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
The identities of the victims have been reported locally, while authorities continue working to establish the precise circumstances of the accident.
Crash Comes After Another Greek Helicopter Tragedy
The Sifnos disaster comes only weeks after another fatal helicopter accident in Greece.
On August 2, a Greek fire service liaison officer and a Danish pilot were killed when helicopters involved in firefighting operations collided in the Psatha area of Attica, around 42 miles west of Athens.
British pilot Andrew Hutchinson, 48, survived that crash, along with another Greek coordinator.
Hutchinson reportedly told his family that he and the fire coordinator escaped before the helicopter exploded after falling to the ground without power.
The two incidents have renewed attention on the risks faced by helicopter crews operating across Greece during the summer season.
