- Three people were killed in a helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos, including a British couple named Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, who were on their honeymoon.
- The helicopter crashed just metres from a landing pad, shortly before its scheduled landing time of 6:15pm local time.
- Authorities suspect a mechanical fault may have caused the crash, with reports of a 'bizarre engine noise' heard before the incident.
- The helicopter took off from Markopoulo, near Athens, and was privately chartered.
- The crash resulted in a fire in the Tholos part of Sifnos, and three bodies were recovered from the site.
- CCTV footage is being studied of the aircraft spiralling out of control as it approached the island’s helipad.
A helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos claimed the lives of British honeymooners Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, along with their pilot, on Monday. The private helicopter, a Bell 206, crashed just meters from a landing pad shortly before its scheduled landing at 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT).12
Witnesses reported hearing a 'bizarre engine noise' as the helicopter approached the helipad, leading authorities to suspect a mechanical fault may have caused the crash. Sifnos' Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, stated that there was almost 'nothing left' of the aircraft after it exploded on impact, igniting a fire in the Tholos area.8
The couple was celebrating their honeymoon when the tragedy struck. Asset management firm Blackstone, where Cromie worked, expressed shock at the loss, stating, “We are shocked by the tragic passing of three people, including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert.” The UK Foreign Office is in contact with local authorities for further information.
Authorities are now focusing on the strange noise reported by locals and are studying CCTV footage of the helicopter spiraling out of control before the crash. A senior police official noted, “What has happened is nothing short of a tragedy.”9
“The helicopter crashed shortly before its scheduled landing, with witnesses reporting a 'bizarre engine noise' before the impact. Local authorities are investigating the incident, focusing on possible mechanical failure as the cause of the crash, which also sparked a fire in the area.”
The Guardian
