A helicopter carrying two British newlyweds was seen spinning out of control before crashing on the Greek island of Sifnos, killing all three people on board. CCTV footage captured the Bell 206 helicopter descending rapidly at around 6.15pm local time on August 17, with thick black smoke visible from the crash site shortly after.
Victims Identified
The victims were Alex Cromie and Marie Ebert, both in their early thirties and from London, who were on their honeymoon and had reportedly hired the private helicopter to travel to the island. The pilot, Giorgios Raikos, 55, an experienced Greek Air Force officer who had previously flown Chinook helicopters, also died in the crash.
Security footage from nearby homes shows the helicopter struggling to stay airborne as its tail circled around. The aircraft then rapidly lost altitude, disappearing behind a building, with pieces thrown into the air upon impact.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are working to establish what happened in the helicopter's final moments. The helicopter had travelled from the Markopoulo area in Attica and was approaching Sifnos when the pilot told relevant services he was preparing to land. According to Greek newspaper Ta Nea, communications then suddenly stopped.
Residents near the helipad reported hearing an unusual noise before the crash. Manolis Fountoulakis, deputy mayor of Sifnos, told ERTnews: “According to the testimonies of the residents of the area, they heard the noise of the helicopter, it was a strange noise. It probably had a mechanical failure in the air. This is because the propeller was doing something strange… it was making a very loud noise.”
Reactions and Aftermath
Asset management firm Blackstone, where Alex worked as a vice president in private wealth solutions, expressed shock. A spokesperson said: “We are shocked by the tragic passing of three people including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert, who were celebrating their honeymoon. Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”
The investigation is led by the National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Railway Accidents and Transport Safety. Sifnos mayor Maria Nadali said: “This is a shocking event. We are shocked and are trying to manage, together with the right services, the consequences of this incident next to the helipad.” No homes were struck, and no other casualties were reported. Greek media said there was little or no wind at the time, with conditions favourable for flying.
