A newlywed British couple and their pilot were killed in a helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday, August 17, 2026, according to Greek police. The victims have been identified as Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, who were on their honeymoon, as reported by the newspaper Kathimerini.
Crash Details and Victims
The private helicopter crashed just metres from a landing pad, killing the couple and their pilot, a Greek national. The helicopter had been flying from the village of Markopoulo near Athens to the popular holiday island, Kathimerini reported. A senior police official told The Times that the crash occurred just before the helicopter's scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT).
Sifnos' Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and told local news site Newsit that there was almost "nothing left" of the aircraft. He said locals witnessed the helicopter crash within metres of their homes and had described a "bizarre engine noise coming from the aircraft" as it was about to land.
Recovery and Response
Foundoulakis stated that two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was a short distance away. Firefighters worked to extinguish a blaze that broke out after the crash, and the flames were brought under control by Monday evening.
An investigation is now under way to determine the cause of the crash. The BBC has contacted the UK Foreign Office, the Greek authorities, and the aviation company for comment.
Tributes from Employer
Asset management firm Blackstone expressed shock at the death of its "beloved" employee, Cromie, and his wife. The company released a statement saying it was deeply saddened by the tragic loss.
The crash has raised questions about helicopter safety in the region, and authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation progresses.
