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Sifnos crash kills three
A private Bell 206 helicopter crashed on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday, killing newlyweds Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert and their pilot, a Greek national.
“The private Bell 206 helicopter crashed just metres from a landing pad”
Greek police said the couple were on their honeymoon and that the aircraft crashed just metres from a landing pad shortly before the scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT).
The BBC reported that investigators were heading to the scene on Tuesday to gather evidence and speak to witnesses, while the UK Foreign Office said it was providing consular support and was in contact with Greek authorities.
Asset management firm Blackstone said in a statement that it was "shocked by the tragic passing of three people including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert" and that "Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone".
Noise, investigation, and names
Greek aviation safety authorities opened an investigation into the crash, with investigators reviewing flight logs, weather conditions, and a possible mechanical failure to determine what caused the helicopter to crash during its final approach.
The deputy mayor of Sifnos, Manolis Foundoulakis, told local news site Newsit that locals saw the helicopter crash within metres of their homes and described a "bizarre engine noise coming from the aircraft" as it was about to land.
The Guardian reported that Greek police believed a mechanical fault may have caused the crash moments before it was due to land, and it quoted a police officer saying, "We can confirm that two passengers, Marie Ebert and Alexander Cromie, died in the incident on Monday evening."
The Guardian also identified the pilot as Giorgos Raikos, 53, and said officials in Syros described him as a former air force officer and "extremely experienced".
Aftermath and what’s next
After the crash, firefighters worked to tackle a blaze which broke out after the crash, and the flames had been extinguished by Monday evening, according to the BBC.
“Firefighters worked to tackle a blaze which broke out after the crash”
The BBC said investigators were heading to the scene on Tuesday to gather evidence and speak to witnesses, while the UK Foreign Office spokesperson told the BBC: "We are providing consular support and in contact with the Greek authorities."
The Guardian reported that further tests were expected to be conducted on all three bodies to determine the precise cause of death, and it said the inquiry was being headed by the National Organisation for the Investigation of Air and Railway Accidents and Transport Safety.
By Tuesday afternoon, Greece’s civil aviation authority had reportedly recalled all Bell 206 helicopters until further notice, as the investigation continued into the circumstances of the crash.
