Greek helicopter 'suffered mechanical failure' before crash that killed Brit newlyweds - as officials call for tail rotor inspections

Published: 09:49, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 09:51, 20 August 2026 The helicopter crash which killed a British newlywed couple on their Greek honeymoon was caused by a mechanical failure, authorities have said. Alexander Cromie, 31, and Marie Ebert, 30, were travelling in a private air taxi from the village of ​Markopoulo, near Athens, to Sifnos when it reportedly suffered a mechanical failure and smashed into the ground near a heliport on the island at around 6pm. Greek pilot Giorgos Raikos, 55, was also killed in the crash. Investigators believe he lost control of the aircraft and crashed into a field in the Tholos area before it erupted into flames. CCTV footage shows the Bell 206 helicopter rotating erratically in the air as it quickly lost altitude.  After examining debris and footage from its final moments, it's believed the helicopter did not fall from a height but spun out of control 50 feet above a landing pad. On Wednesday, officials called an emergency mandate for pilots to inspect their tail rotors. Kostas Iatridis, a defence analyst and former helicopter pilot, said: 'Without any directional stability the aircraft that was flying at such low altitude must have spun violently on its axis, leaving the pilot no time to issue a distress call.' Parts of the aircraft were seen flying in the air upon impact.  Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert,were taking a ride in a private air taxi before it was suspected to have suffered a mechanical failure and crashed near a heliport in Sifnos, Greece Footage shows the helicopter immediately engulfed in a fireball, with smoke seen billowing into the sky from the blackened wreckage  Locals who witnessed the crash from their homes said they heard a 'bizarre engine noise coming from the aircraft'. A doctor at the island's only medical clinic, told The Times: 'It was the worst site I have ever faced in my life. 'The debris, the thought of what happened in those final minutes - all of that was harrowing.'  The pilot, a retired Greek Air Force officer, is understood to have had extensive flying experience and had piloted military Chinook helicopters, according to local reports.  Mr Cromie was the vice president of private wealth solutions at asset manager Blackstone's London office, while Ms Ebert worked for consultancy firm Bain & Company. In a tribute, Blackstone 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.' Bain & Company told the Daily Mail: 'Marie Ebert was a much-loved and deeply respected member of our London team. Your browser does not support iframes. CCTV footage shows the Bell 206 aircraft rotate erratically in the air as it quickly lost altitude, before descending to the ground Ms Ebert was on her honeymoon with her husband when the helicopter crashed Mr Cromie was vice president of private wealth solutions at Blackstone's London office '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.' She had worked there for over a year, specialising in market reputation, having previously worked at investment firm Coller Capital. Manolis Fountoulakis, deputy mayor of Sifnos, told Greek news site NewsIT: 'There was nothing left, a shapeless mass, inside which the two charred bodies must have been. 'It experienced mechanical failure in the air, residents say it made a loud, strange noise, like military aircraft.' He added that two bodies were discovered inside the crash site while another had been found a few yards away. No homes were hit and no other casualties were sustained, it is understood.