A newlywed British couple and their helicopter pilot died after their aircraft crashed in flames on the Greek island of Sifnos on Aug. 17, 2026, in what authorities suspect was caused by a mechanical malfunction during the final moments of flight.
Marie Ebert, 30, and Alexander Cromie, 31, were killed alongside pilot Giorgos Raikos, 53, when their Bell 206 went down near the Tholos area at approximately 6:15 p.m. local time. The crash, which occurred roughly 50 meters from nearby residences and close to the Monastery of Panagia Vrysiani, triggered an island-wide alarm and sent thick black smoke into the sky.
Bain & Company released a statement calling Ebert “a much-loved and deeply respected member of our London team” who was “exceptional at her job, admired by everyone who worked with her, and had an extraordinary future ahead of her.” The consulting firm said they were “devastated” and are “doing everything we can to support her family and colleagues at this time.”
Mechanical Failure Suspected
Greece’s civil aviation authority identified signs pointing toward a possible malfunction in the helicopter’s tail rotor, and Greek media reported that the authority had recalled Bell 206 helicopters until further notice, though no fleet-wide grounding has been officially confirmed. CCTV footage showed the aircraft spinning uncontrollably and plummeting before it struck the ground and burst into flames.
Manolis Fountoulakis, the deputy mayor of Sifnos, relayed what residents observed: “It experienced mechanical failure in the air, residents say it made a loud, strange noise, like military aircraft.”
The couple had opted for the private air taxi to avoid a ferry trip lasting as long as five hours from the mainland. Their flight departed from Markopoulo, a village southeast of Athens, with an expected landing time of around 6:20 p.m. local time. Just minutes before the scheduled arrival, the pilot lost control.
Emergency Response
Two firefighters and one fire engine responded to the arid hillside where the wreckage burned. A rescue squad from Syros later arrived via the Fire Department’s RAFNAR speedboat. Emergency crews found all three victims dead at the scene, with the intensity and speed of the fire leaving no possibility of survival.
Raikos, a father of three and former air force pilot with extensive experience, had reportedly been hired two months prior to the accident. Investigators are examining all available evidence, including the video of the aircraft’s chaotic descent, as they work to reconstruct what happened in the flight’s final minutes.
The Victims
Cromie, who was born in Bristol and graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in economics, worked as a vice president in private wealth solutions at Blackstone’s London office. He had been with the U.S.-based investment management firm for four years, first as an associate in private wealth solutions before being made vice president in January 2026. His career also included positions with NatWest, BNP Paribas, and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Ebert, a London native and University of Exeter graduate fluent in German, held the position of senior specialist in market reputation at Bain & Company, according to her LinkedIn page. She joined the consulting giant — one of the industry’s “Big Three” firms — in July 2025 after working in asset management, private equity, and consulting, including time at investment firm Coller Capital. Her social media profiles featured photographs from trips to Caribbean islands, the French Riviera, and northern Italy’s lake regions.
A spokesperson for 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.”
A Bain spokesperson called the firm heartbroken. The company also expressed sympathy for the families of Cromie and Raikos.
Greek officials have notified the families of all three victims and offered condolences to those mourning the loss of the honeymooning couple and the experienced pilot at the controls.