A helicopter crash that killed a British couple on their Greek honeymoon and their pilot is believed to have been caused by a mechanical failure, authorities stated. The private air taxi carrying Alexander Cromie, 31, and Marie Ebert, 30, reportedly experienced an issue en route from Markopoulo, near Athens, to Sifnos.
The Bell 206 helicopter crashed into a field near a heliport on the island around 6 p.m., according to reports. CCTV footage appears to show the aircraft rotating erratically at a low altitude before descending rapidly. Investigators believe the helicopter spun out of control approximately 50 feet above a landing pad, rather than falling from a greater height.
Parts of the aircraft were seen in the air upon impact, and locals reported hearing a "bizarre engine noise." The helicopter became engulfed in a fireball following the crash. The pilot, 55-year-old Giorgos Raikos, was a retired Greek Air Force officer with extensive flying experience.
Following the incident, officials issued an emergency mandate requiring pilots to inspect the tail rotors of their aircraft. "Without any directional stability the aircraft that was flying at such low altitude must have spun violently on its axis, leaving the pilot no time to issue a distress call," said Kostas Iatridis, a defense analyst and former helicopter pilot.
Alexander Cromie was the vice president of private wealth solutions at Blackstone's London office, and Marie Ebert worked for the consultancy firm Bain & Company. Blackstone described Cromie as "beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him," while Bain & Company called Ebert "much-loved and deeply respected." Both firms extended their condolences to the families of those lost, including the pilot.
Manolis Fountoulakis, deputy mayor of Sifnos, described the scene as a "shapeless mass" where the "two charred bodies must have been." He confirmed that two bodies were found within the main crash site, with a third discovered nearby. No homes were struck, and no other casualties were reported.