Three people have died after a helicopter crashed on the Greek island of Sifnos, in the Aegean Sea, according to reports. The incident occurred shortly after 4pm UK time (6pm local time) on 17 August 2026.
Crash and fire response
The private helicopter is believed to have gone down near homes in the Tholos neighbourhood, sparking a large fire. Firefighters and rescue crews rushed to the scene and quickly brought the flames under control.
Three bodies were recovered from the site, the fire department said, but their identities and the cause of the crash have not yet been confirmed.
Rescue efforts and island location
Emergency services were first alerted to the incident at around 6:17pm, according to Proto Thema. Firefighters and a rescue team from Syros, who arrived on a high-speed boat operated by the Fire Brigade, attended the scene.
An image taken in the immediate aftermath showed thick black smoke billowing from a fireball at the crash site.
Sifnos is a popular island in the western part of the Cyclades group, situated between Serifos and Milos. It is approximately 76 nautical miles (140 km) from Piraeus, Athens' main port, and is known for its culinary scene, pottery history, and scenic villages.
