Sifnos helicopter crash kills pilot and British couple

An investigation is underway following a fatal Bell 206 helicopter crash in the Exampela area of Sifnos, Greece. The accident claimed the lives of three people: experienced 53-year-old pilot Giorgos Raikos and a young British couple, Alexander Cromie (31) and Marie Ebert (30), who were visiting the island for their honeymoon.

Witness accounts and video footage show the helicopter spinning in the air and losing altitude abruptly while approaching a helipad, just 40 to 50 meters from the landing site, before crashing and catching fire. Aviation experts suggest the cause may involve a malfunction in the relationship between the main rotor and the tail rotor.

Authorities, including the Greek police and aviation safety agencies, are conducting a full inquiry. The parents of the British couple have provided DNA samples to the Homicide Department to assist in official identification. Autopsies and toxicological examinations of the victims are scheduled to take place in Athens.