A British couple on their honeymoon and their pilot died on 17 August 2026 after a privately chartered helicopter crashed and burst into flames near a landing pad on the Greek island of Sifnos. Greek police say a mechanical fault is suspected, with investigators examining reports of a "strange noise" from the aircraft, a Bell 206, in the seconds before it went down. Accounts differ slightly on whether the crash occurred moments after takeoff or just before landing, a discrepancy addressed later in this article.
Police confirmed that London-based Marie Ebert, 30, and Alexander Cromie, 31, who had recently married, were killed alongside the pilot, identified by officials in Syros as Giorgos Raikos, 53, a former air force officer described as "extremely experienced". The Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that the couple were on their honeymoon at the time of the crash.
We can confirm that two passengers, Marie Ebert and Alexander Cromie, died in the incident on Monday evening.
What caused the crash?
Investigators are focusing on the possibility of engine failure after witnesses reported an unusual sound from the helicopter shortly before it lost control. According to a wire-service report, the fire service confirmed the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff and that three people died, though the precise cause remained undetermined at the time. A source close to the inquiry said the probe was centring on the aircraft's mechanical condition.
The focus of the inquiry is now on the helicopter and possible engine failure. What has happened is nothing short of a tragedy.
The deputy mayor of Sifnos, Manolis Fountolakis (also transliterated as Foundoulakis in some reports), told Greek television that residents had described hearing an abnormal sound from the propeller before the aircraft went down. Speaking separately to the local news outlet Newsit, he said there was almost nothing left of the aircraft when he arrived at the scene, and described locals hearing what he called a "bizarre engine noise" coming from the helicopter as it was about to land.
People in the area have testified hearing the helicopter making a noise, a strange noise, probably a mechanical fault in the air and because the propeller was doing something strange.
Officials are also reviewing closed-circuit footage that shows the helicopter spiralling as it approached the island's helipad near the village of Exambela. Separately, Greek media reporting said authorities were specifically analysing footage from the final seconds of the flight to establish exactly what caused the aircraft to lose control. The same reporting identified the aircraft as a Bell 206 operated by Bellavia Aviation Services.
What do accounts say about the timing and location of the crash?
Reports vary on precisely when and where the helicopter went down. The wire-service account cited above states the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, whereas other reporting describes the crash occurring just metres from the landing pad as the helicopter was about to land. A senior police official told a British newspaper, The Times, that the helicopter had a scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT), shortly before the incident occurred. According to local reporting, the fire service was notified at approximately 18:17 local time, broadly consistent with the 6:17 p.m. alert time reported elsewhere. Separately, another international report suggested the aircraft came down in the sea seconds after takeoff from a nearby helipad, an account that differs from versions placing the crash on land near the heliport. The discrepancies have not been resolved and remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Where and when did the crash happen?
The helicopter went down in the Tholos area, close to the island's heliport, with emergency services alerted at 6:17 p.m. local time on 17 August 2026, according to a state news agency report. A local resident, Antonis Zambelis, described the crash site to Greece's public broadcaster.
The helicopter crashed about 50 metres away from houses with people inside and about 50 metres from the landing spot next to the Panayia tis Vrysis monastery.
Thick smoke rose from the site after the aircraft caught fire on impact. Emergency crews worked to extinguish the blaze before recovering the remains of all three victims. Two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was located a short distance away, according to the second source's account of the recovery operation. Reports indicate a rescue team also travelled from Syros by speedboat as part of the emergency response.
Where had the flight originated?
According to Greek reporting, the helicopter had departed from the village of Markopoulo near Athens before heading to Sifnos, a route Kathimerini also reported the couple had taken to reach the island.
How is the island reacting?
The mayor of Sifnos, Maria Nadali, said local authorities were working with emergency services to manage the aftermath of the disaster.
We are shocked and are trying to manage, together with the right services, the consequences of this incident next to the helipad.
Cromie worked as a vice-president in private wealth solutions at the asset management firm Blackstone, a role he had held since January of the previous year after four years with the company, according to his LinkedIn profile. A Blackstone spokesperson issued a statement expressing condolences.
We are shocked by the tragic passing of three people including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert, who were celebrating their honeymoon.
Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
Why has helicopter travel become more common in Greece?
Sifnos, part of the Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea, lies roughly 120 miles (195km) southeast of Athens and takes several hours to reach by ferry, making it a longstanding destination for travellers seeking a quieter alternative within the archipelago. In recent years, chartering private helicopters to move quickly between islands in the Ionian and Aegean seas has grown increasingly popular among tourists, reducing what would otherwise be lengthy sea crossings to short flights. The island's popularity as a tourist destination is part of why the crash drew broad attention from Greek and international media.
What happens next in the investigation?
Greece's ministry of infrastructure and transport is coordinating the official inquiry, with senior law enforcement officials having travelled to Sifnos to assist. According to continuing Greek media coverage, investigators are still reviewing available video footage and examining the wreckage of the helicopter itself to determine the precise sequence of events, including reconciling the conflicting accounts of whether the crash occurred on takeoff, on landing, or over water. No public hearing date or formal next procedural step had been announced as of the latest reporting. Authorities have said they have contacted relevant parties, including foreign government representatives, the Greek authorities and the aviation company, for further comment.
Key Facts
- Marie Ebert, 30, and Alexander Cromie, 31, both from London, died along with pilot Giorgos Raikos, 53, a former air force officer.
- The Bell 206 helicopter, reportedly operated by Bellavia Aviation Services, crashed in the Tholos area near the Sifnos heliport at around 6:17 p.m. local time on 17 August 2026.
- Witnesses reported hearing an unusual, "bizarre" engine noise from the aircraft before it lost control; accounts differ on whether the crash happened shortly after takeoff, just before landing, or over the sea.
- The flight is reported to have originated in Markopoulo near Athens; two victims were found in the wreckage and the third nearby.
- Cromie worked as a vice-president in private wealth solutions at Blackstone, where he had been employed for four years.
- Greece's ministry of infrastructure and transport is leading the investigation, which includes review of video footage and the wreckage.
