Helicopter crash on Sifnos kills British newlyweds and Greek pilot

A privately chartered Bell 206 helicopter crashed while approaching the helipad on the Greek island of Sifnos, killing a British newlywed couple and the Greek pilot, local authorities said.

Mechanical failure suspected after witnesses reported odd noises

The couple, 31-year-old Aleksandar Kromi and 30-year-old Mari Ebert from London, had travelled to Sifnos for their honeymoon when the aircraft came down just before landing. The pilot was identified as 53-year-old Jorgos Raikos, a former officer in the Hellenic Air Force described by officials as highly experienced.

Investigators have focused on the helicopter's condition and the possibility of an engine or mechanical fault. A police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the two passengers, Mari Ebert and Aleksandar Kromi, died in the incident on Monday evening." A separate source involved in the probe commented: "What happened is a real tragedy."

Witnesses and local officials reported unusual sounds from the aircraft moments before it fell. "People in the area testified that they heard the helicopter make some strange noise, probably due to a mechanical defect in the air, and the rotor behaved unusually," said Manolis Fountolakis, deputy mayor of Sifnos. Surveillance footage is being analysed and reportedly shows the helicopter losing control and spiralling down as it neared the island's helipad by the village of Exambela.

The helicopter crashed near houses and close to the monastery of Panagia tis Vrisis; locals said the wreckage ignited on impact and dense smoke covered the scene. Rescue teams extinguished the fire and recovered the bodies of all three occupants.

Representatives of the companies where the victims worked issued statements mourning their deaths. A Blackstone spokesperson said: "We are shocked by the tragic death of three people, including our colleague Alex Kromi and his wife Mari Ebert, who were celebrating their honeymoon. Alex was loved by all who knew and worked with him." Bain & Company released a message reading: "We are shocked by the news of the tragic accident in Greece in which our colleague and her husband lost their lives. Our thoughts and support are with their families at this extremely difficult time." According to Kromi's LinkedIn profile, he had worked at Blackstone for four years and was promoted to vice president in January; Ebert worked at Bain & Company as a senior specialist.

The Greek Ministry of Transport said the National authority responsible for investigating air and rail accidents and transport safety is leading the probe. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority reportedly grounded Bell 206 helicopters until further notice. Sifnos lies about 195 kilometres southeast of Athens; travel to the island by ferry takes several hours, and private helicopter transfers have become increasingly popular among tourists in recent years.

Photo: press material from the event