Honeymoon Tragedy: British Couple Dies in Sifnos Helicopter Crash
A young British couple, Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, who were celebrating their honeymoon on the Greek island of Sifnos, have been named as two of the three victims killed when their private helicopter crashed just metres from a landing pad.
A British couple on their honeymoon and their Greek pilot have died after their private helicopter crashed on the island of Sifnos, Greek police have confirmed. The newlyweds, Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, were killed alongside the pilot when the aircraft came down in a fiery accident just metres from its intended landing pad on Monday evening.
The couple had taken the helicopter from the village of Markopoulo, near Athens, to the popular Cycladic island, according to the newspaper Kathimerini. The crash occurred moments before the scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time. Sifnos' Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, told local news site Newsit that there was almost "nothing left" of the aircraft, describing a scene of total devastation. He said locals had reported hearing a "bizarre engine noise" as the helicopter approached to land, before it crashed within metres of their homes. Two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was located a short distance away. Firefighters extinguished a blaze that broke out following the impact.
The victims have been named as Alexander Cromie, an employee of the asset management firm Blackstone, and his wife, Marie Ebert. In a statement, Blackstone expressed its shock at the "tragic passing" of its colleague and his wife, 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," the firm said.
An investigation is now under way to determine the cause of the crash. The BBC has contacted the UK Foreign Office, Greek authorities and the aviation company for comment. The incident has cast a shadow over the island, a popular destination for tourists, as residents and officials grapple with the sudden loss of life. The couple, who had their whole lives ahead of them, died in a moment of celebration, leaving their families and friends to mourn a tragedy that has cut short a promising future.