A British couple who were on their honeymoon in Greece have been identified as the two passengers killed in a helicopter crash on the island of Sifnos.
The victims were named as Alex Cromie and his wife, Marie Ebert. The helicopter’s pilot also died in the crash, which occurred shortly after the aircraft took off on Monday.
Greek authorities said the helicopter struck a hillside in the Tholos area of Sifnos before catching fire. Emergency responders recovered the bodies of all three people from the crash site.
The cause of the accident remains unknown.
Blackstone, where Cromie worked as a vice president in private wealth, said the company was “shocked” by the deaths and described him as a well-loved colleague.
“Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones,” the company said.
Cromie had worked at Blackstone for four years, initially joining as an associate in private wealth solutions before being promoted to vice president in January.
Ebert was a senior specialist at management consultancy Bain & Company. The firm also expressed its condolences, saying it was shocked by reports of the accident and extending its support to the families affected.
Images from local television showed a barren hillside at the crash site, with flames and thick smoke rising from the wreckage as emergency personnel worked at the scene.
Sifnos, part of Greece’s Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea, has a permanent population of about 2,700 and is a popular tourist destination.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was providing consular support to the victims’ families and was in contact with Greek authorities.
