British corporate couple killed on honeymoon as helicopter crashes moments before landing on Greek island; watch video

A British couple on their honeymoon died alongside their Greek pilot when their private helicopter crashed just meters from its landing pad on the Greek island of Sifnos, 120 miles south-east of the Greek capital Athens.

Alexander Cromie, 31, and Marie Ebert, 30, were killed with pilot Giorgos Raikos, 55, when the helicopter came down in the Tholos area of Sifnos on Monday, Aug. 17, according to The Times.

The crash happened just minutes before the helicopter was due to land at a helipad, the outlet reported.


The newlyweds had been traveling to Sifnos, a popular holiday destination in the Cyclades, after departing from Markopoulo, a village around 13 miles southeast of Athens, according to Kathimerini, as reported by the BBC.

Multiple social media users posted videos of the incident, claiming from the crash site.

The newlywed couple’s deaths have prompted tributes from their employers in London, where both held senior positions in the corporate world.

Ebert was a senior specialist at the global management consultancy Bain & Company, according to her LinkedIn page. The company described her as a “much-loved and deeply respected member of our London team,” PEOPLE reported, citing a company statement.

“She was exceptional at her job, admired by everyone who worked with her, and had an extraordinary future ahead of her,” the company said. “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.”

Cromie worked as a vice president in private wealth solutions at asset management company Blackstone. The company told The Guardian that he was “beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”

The Foreign Office confirmed that it was supporting the families following the deaths.

“Our thoughts are with the families during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and in contact with the Greek authorities,” a spokesperson told the BBC.

Sifnos, part of Greece’s Cyclades island group, is known for its beaches and the Chrysopigi Monastery. The island also receives private helicopter traffic, including flights used by tourists traveling between the mainland and the popular holiday destination.

The circumstances surrounding Monday’s crash remain under investigation.

The tragedy comes weeks after another helicopter incident involving a British pilot in Greece. Earlier this month, Andrew Hutchinson, 48, survived a mid-air collision with another helicopter while fighting wildfires. Hutchinson managed to land his helicopter without any rotors, while two other people were killed in that crash.