The British newlyweds killed in a Greek helicopter crash during their honeymoon have been identified as Alex Cromie, 31, and Marie Ebert, 30.
The couple died alongside their pilot, Giorgos Raikos, 55, when the private helicopter crashed and erupted into flames in the Tholos area of Sifnos, an Aegean island in the Cyclades group, on Monday. The aircraft had departed from Markopoulo, near Athens, and was minutes from its scheduled 6:15 p.m. Landing when it went down, according to an officer with Athens Police. The helicopter was scheduled to depart again just 25 minutes later.
Horror footage circulating online showed the helicopter rotating in the air before rapidly losing altitude and plummeting to the ground. Witnesses told Greek outlet News 24/7 that they saw smoke rising from the helicopter when it was approximately 50 metres from the helipad. The Greek Fire Service confirmed the aircraft came down near residential homes in the Tholos region, where it then erupted into flames. Emergency services raced to the scene, but the occupants could not be saved.
In a statement issued to the Press Association, a spokesperson for Blackstone, where Cromie worked as a vice president in private wealth solutions, said: “We are shocked by the tragic passing of three people including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert, 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.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Cromie, 31, had worked at Blackstone for four years, first as an associate in private wealth solutions before being promoted to vice president last January.
Meanwhile, Ebert’s employers at Bain & Company paid tribute to the 30-year-old senior specialist. A spokesperson for the management consultancy said: “Marie Ebert was a much-loved and deeply respected member of our London team. She was exceptional at her job, admired by everyone who worked with her, and had an extraordinary future ahead of her. We are devastated. Our thoughts are with Marie’s family, with her husband Alex’s family, and with the friends and colleagues who are grieving them both. We also extend our sympathies to the family of the pilot who lost his life as well. Marie will be greatly missed by all of us at Bain, and we are doing everything we can to support her family and colleagues at this time.”
The pilot, Raikos, was reportedly a veteran of the Hellenic Army who became a helicopter pilot after his retirement, according to local outlet Ta Nea.
Air accident expert Pantelis Fragoulis told ERTnews the helicopter’s “sharp turn to the right during the approach to the helipad” could indicate damage to the aircraft’s tail section. Despite Raikos’ years of experience, Fragoulis said a serious mechanical incident would make it extremely difficult to maintain control. Another possibility, he suggested, could be that Raikos suffered a sudden medical emergency.
The deputy mayor of Sifnos, Manolis Fountoulakis, told local media it is believed the crash was the result of a mechanical failure. He said: “It experienced mechanical failure in the air; residents say it made a loud, strange noise, like a military aircraft.” Describing the scene, he continued: “Nothing was left, just a shapeless mass,” He added that two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was discovered a short distance away from the helicopter.
The National Organisation for the Investigation of Air and Railway Accidents and Transport Safety is now investigating the incident, according to the Greek Ministry of Transport.
In the viral moment that preceded the naming of the victims, footage showed the helicopter’s final moments as it spun out of control before crashing near homes and bursting into flames. The crash sparked a major fire in the Tholos area, with plumes of smoke visible across the landscape. The incident occurred as Cromie and Ebert were en route to begin their honeymoon on Sifnos, a popular holiday destination in the Cyclades.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said News: “We are in contact with the local authorities and are urgently seeking further information. Our staff stand ready to provide consular support to those affected.”
The investigation into the crash cause is expected to continue as Greek authorities examine the wreckage and flight data.