ALBAWABA- A private helicopter crashed on the Aegean island of Sifnos on Monday evening, killing all three people on board, according to Greek fire service officials and local authorities.
The Bell 206 helicopter, reportedly operated as a private charter associated with Bellavia Aviation Services, crashed shortly after taking off from a helipad in the Tholos area.
The aircraft came down near an inhabited area close to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Vrysi but did not hit any homes. The impact sparked a fire that local firefighters worked to extinguish, while rescue teams and additional support were dispatched by sea from the nearby island of Syros.
The victims were the Greek pilot and two passengers, reportedly a British couple who had recently married and were on their honeymoon. Local media identified the pilot as Giorgos Raikos and the passengers as Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, although authorities had not immediately confirmed their identities. Rescue teams recovered all three bodies from the wreckage, with some reports saying they had suffered severe burns in the post-crash fire.
The crash comes just two weeks after another helicopter accident near Psatha, on the outskirts of Megara. On August 2, 2026, the two-member crew of a firefighting helicopter was killed in a midair collision while responding to wildfires that had devastated large areas of the country.
Sifnos, a popular tourist destination in the Cyclades, receives regular private helicopter traffic, particularly during the summer season, when travelers use charter flights to reach the island from the mainland and other destinations.
