British couple on honeymoon killed in helicopter crash on Greek island

A British couple and their Greek pilot tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on the island of Sifnos, Greece, during their honeymoon. The victims were identified as Alexander Cromie, Marie Ebert, and their pilot, a Greek national. The incident occurred just a few meters away from a designated landing pad.

Cromie and Ebert, newlyweds, had rented the helicopter to travel from the village of Markopoulo near Athens to the popular holiday destination. The Greek aviation safety authority has launched an investigation into the crash, with investigators expected on the scene on Tuesday to collect evidence and speak to witnesses.

The Foreign Office expressed condolences to the families, offering consular support and coordinating with Greek authorities. Cromie worked for asset management firm Blackstone, while Ebert was a senior specialist at consultancy brand Bain & Company. Both companies released statements expressing shock and sorrow over the loss of their employees and colleagues.

The crash took place just moments before the scheduled landing at 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT). Sifnos' Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, arrived at the crash site shortly after the incident and reported that almost "nothing was left" of the aircraft. Locals witnessed the helicopter crash within meters of their homes and described hearing a bizarre engine noise as it prepared to land.

The island's Vice Mayor for tourism, Yiannis Rafeletos, conveyed the deep shock and devastation felt by the people of Sifnos. He stated that two victims were found within the wreckage, while the third was located a short distance away. Firefighters responded to contain the resulting fire, which was swiftly extinguished by Monday evening. Emergency services and locals were seen working together to extinguish the flames at the crash scene.