A damaged rotor blade from a prior incident may be responsible for the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of a British couple on their honeymoon in Greece, according to investigators.
Alexander Cromie, 31, and Marie Ebert, 30, were aboard a Bell 206 helicopter when the pilot reportedly lost control during an attempted landing on the island of Sifnos. Witnesses described the helicopter spinning erratically before crashing, indicating a potential tail rotor failure. The crash resulted in the deaths of the newlyweds and the Greek pilot.
Investigators are reportedly exploring a connection between the crash and an incident involving the same helicopter approximately 11 weeks prior. On June 1, restraining straps were applied to immobilize the tail blades during high winds after the aircraft landed on the island of Paros. A report filed with Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority suggests the pilot may have failed to remove these straps before restarting the engine to depart with passengers.
Experts are currently assessing whether these straps could have caused strain or damage to the tail assembly. The investigation has been complicated by an intense fire that significantly damaged the helicopter wreckage.
Flight tracking data indicates the helicopter remained on Paros for three weeks following the June 1 incident and later received an airworthiness certificate on July 2.
In response to the crash, the Greek civil aviation authority has mandated that all Bell 206 helicopters undergo visual and functional checks of their tail rotors before each flight within Greece as a precautionary measure.
Mr. Cromie was a vice-president in private wealth solutions for the asset management company Blackstone. A spokesperson for Blackstone stated that Mr. Cromie was "beloved by everyone who worked with him." Ms. Ebert was employed as a senior specialist by management consultant Bain & Company, which described her as a "much-loved and deeply respected" member of its London team.
Mr. Cromie and Ms. Ebert are believed to have booked the 80-mile flight to Sifnos as a honeymoon excursion, with the cost reported to be around £1,300. Relatives of the couple have reportedly traveled to Athens to formally identify their bodies.