British newlyweds killed in helicopter crash while on their honeymoon have been named
Tributes have been paid to a 'beloved' man who died alongside his 'much-loved' wife in a tragic helicopter crash while they were celebrating their honeymoon together in Greece.
Alex Cromie, 31, and his wife Marie Ebert, 30, as well as their pilot Giorgos Raikos, 55, were all killed when the private helicopter crashed and sparked a major fire in the Tholos area of Aegean island Sifnos.
Horror footage online showed the helicopter rotating in the air before rapidly losing altitude and plummeting to the ground. Other pictures show plumes of smoke billowing over the area.
Witnesses said they saw smoke rising from the helicopter when it was around 50 metres from the helipad, according to Greek outlet News 24/7.
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The Greek Fire Service said the helicopter came down near to residential homes in the Tholos region, part of the Cyclades island group, where it then erupted into flames.
Emergency services raced to the scene, but the occupants of the aircraft could not be saved, it was reported.
The helicopter had set out from Markopoulo, near Athens, to the popular holiday island of Sifnos, where Cromie and Ebert were set to honeymoon, according to local media outlet Protothema.
In a statement issued to the Press Association, a spokesperson for asset management firm 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 worked at Blackstone for four years, first as an associate in private wealth solutions before being made a vice president last January.
The pilot, Raikos, is said to have formerly been a veteran of the Hellenic Army who went on to become a helicopter pilot after his retirement, local outlet Ta Nea reported.
Meanwhile, Ms Ebert’s employers at Bain & Company said they were 'devastated' by the news of her death.
A spokesperson for Bain & Company 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.”
Ms Ebert was a senior specialist at the management consultancy, according to her LinkedIn page.
What might have caused the crash?
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 helicopter's tail section.
Despite Raikos' years of experience, a serious mechanical incident would make it extremely difficult to maintain control of the aircraft, Fragoulis said.
Another possibility, he suggested, could be that Raikos suffered a sudden medical emergency.
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.
An officer on the case based with Athens Police said in a statement: "The crash came minutes before the scheduled 6.15pm landing. The helicopter was scheduled to leave 25 minutes later."
The deputy mayor of Sifnos, Manolis Fountoulakis, told local media it is believed the crash was a 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 of the crash, he said: "Nothing was left, just a shapeless mass."
He added that two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was found a short distance away from the helicopter.
A Foreign Office spokesperson told LADbible: "Our thoughts are with the families during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and in contact with the Greek authorities."
Topics: World News, UK News
James Holt