A tragic helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos has claimed the lives of a young British couple and their pilot. The victims have been identified as newlyweds Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, who were visiting the island as part of their honeymoon. The private Bell 206 aircraft went down on Monday just meters from its intended landing pad.
Reports indicate the couple had departed from the village of Markopoulo, near Athens, earlier that day. A senior police official stated that the incident occurred shortly before the scheduled arrival time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT). Witnesses living nearby reported hearing an unusual engine noise coming from the helicopter moments before it struck the ground.
Sifnos Deputy Mayor Yiannis Rafeletos expressed the community’s profound grief, noting that the local population is deeply shocked by the disaster. He remarked that the joy of the couple’s visit had suddenly turned into immense sorrow. Another local official, Deputy Mayor Manolis Foundoulakis, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and described the wreckage as nearly completely destroyed.
Firefighters were deployed to the site to extinguish a blaze that erupted immediately following the impact. By Monday evening, the flames had been successfully contained. Authorities reported that two of the victims were discovered within the wreckage, while the third was located a short distance away.
Greece’s aviation safety authority has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Investigators were scheduled to arrive at the scene on Tuesday to begin gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. The has reached out to both Greek officials and the aviation company involved for further comment.
The British Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support to the families affected. A spokesperson stated: “Our thoughts are with the families during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and in contact with the Greek authorities.”
Professional tributes have been paid to both victims. Alexander Cromie was an employee at the asset management firm Blackstone, which released a statement expressing shock at the loss of their colleague and his wife. “Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones,” the firm said.
Marie Ebert was a senior specialist at the consultancy firm Bain & Company. In a statement, the company expressed its condolences, noting they were “shocked to read reports of a tragic accident in Greece regarding one of our colleagues and her husband,” and added that their support remains with the families involved. The report also notes that plume of black smoke seen at site of deadly helicopter crash. The report also notes that emergency services personnel and locals were pictured working at the crash site to extinguish flames.
