A trip that had begun as the most beautiful continuation of their marriage turned into an unspeakable tragedy for Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, the newlywed couple from Britain who lost their lives in a private helicopter crash on Sifnos.
The couple, aged 31 and 30, lived in London and had chosen Greece for their honeymoon. They had chartered a private helicopter taxi to travel from Markopoulo to Sifnos, but the flight never reached its destination.
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The Bell 206 crashed shortly before its scheduled landing at the island’s heliport, resulting in the deaths of the two newlyweds as well as the Greek pilot, George Raikos.
Who was Alexander Cromie?
Alexander Cromie had already built a highly successful career in London. The 31-year-old worked at Blackstone, one of the largest international alternative investment firms, where he served as vice president of Private Wealth Solutions.
Following the news of his death, the company publicly expressed its sorrow, noting that Alexander was deeply loved by those who knew him and worked with him.
“We are devastated by the tragic deaths of three people, including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert, who were celebrating their honeymoon,” Blackstone said.
The company added that “Alex was beloved by everyone who knew him and worked with him.”
The honeymoon they never got to experience
Alexander and Marie had recently gotten married, and Sifnos was to be one of the first stops in their new life as a married couple.
The private helicopter had taken off from Markopoulo and was approaching the island when the crash occurred. According to reports, the pilot had already indicated that he was preparing to land before radio contact was suddenly lost.
Footage from security cameras reportedly shows the helicopter spinning erratically in the air and losing altitude before it struck the ground and burst into flames. Local residents also reported hearing an unusual and loud noise shortly before the crash.
Pilot Giorgos Raikos
Along with the couple, Greek pilot George Raikos, a retired Air Force officer with extensive flight experience, also lost his life. According to published reports, he had also served on Chinook military helicopters; he was a family man and the father of three children.
The investigation into the causes
The exact circumstances of the crash are still being investigated by the relevant authorities. Following the accident, the Civil Aviation Authority issued an urgent directive to companies operating Bell 206 helicopters, requiring inspections prior to subsequent flights.
According to the preliminary assessment that was made public, there are indications being examined regarding a possible malfunction in the tail rotor’s performance. However, this is not yet a final conclusion regarding the cause of the accident, as the official investigation is still ongoing.
The tragedy has shocked not only Sifnos but also those who knew the newlywed couple in London. A trip that was meant to mark the beginning of their life together ended in the most tragic way, just minutes before their arrival on the island.
