Couple killed on honeymoon: Helicopter crashes on Greek island after 'mysterious radio silence'
Alexander Kromy and Marie Ebert, newlyweds from London, were killed on their honeymoon when the private helicopter transporting them to the island of Sifnos crashed meters from the landing pad. The pilot also died; reports indicate he had announced his intention to land before a 'mysterious radio silence' occurred.
British and Greek media report that a British couple were killed in a helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos during their honeymoon. The Greek pilot also perished in the disaster.
The tragedy occurred around 18:00 local time on Sifnos, a small island in the Cyclades group with a population of fewer than a thousand people. The victims, 30-year-olds Alexander Kromy and Marie Ebert, who lived in London, were arriving from the Athens area in a private Bell 206 helicopter when the crash occurred minutes before the planned landing.
The Greek newspaper 'Kathimerini' reported that the helicopter crashed just meters from the helipad. The moments of the crash were documented by security camera footage, showing the helicopter spinning before diving to the ground, followed by a large column of smoke.
The pilot, 55-year-old Giorgos Raikos, had managed to notify authorities of his intention to land, but a 'mysterious radio silence' followed that message. Local residents testified that they heard an unusual noise coming from the helicopter before it went down.
Manolis Fontolakis, deputy mayor of Sifnos, told local media:
'The helicopter experienced a mechanical failure in the air. The residents say it made a loud and strange noise, like that of military aircraft.'
Three bodies were recovered at the scene. Mayor Maria Nadali described the event as 'shocking' and stated that authorities are investigating the circumstances. The pilot was a former Greek Air Force officer with extensive experience flying military 'Chinook' helicopters. He had begun working for the private helicopter service only two months ago.
