Three killed in helicopter crash on Sifnos
Three people were killed when a private Bell 206 helicopter crashed and caught fire on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday evening.
The victims were the Greek-origin pilot and a British couple, according to reports. The helicopter, operated by Bellavia, crashed in the Tholos area near the island’s heliport. Greek authorities confirmed that all three people on board died in the accident.
Bodies recovered from wreckage
The Fire Service was alerted at about 6:17 p.m. after the helicopter went down and a fire broke out at the site.
Firefighters recovered the three bodies during efforts to extinguish the blaze. Two firefighters and a fire engine were initially deployed, while a rescue team from neighbouring Syros travelled to Sifnos aboard a Fire Service high-speed boat.
The helicopter reportedly departed from Markopoulo and was approaching Sifnos when it crashed near the heliport. No houses were reportedly struck.
Cause of crash remains unknown
Authorities have not yet established what caused the helicopter to crash.
An investigation is expected to examine the aircraft’s flight path, technical condition and the circumstances surrounding its final approach. Early reports have also cited witness accounts of unusual sounds before the crash, but no cause has been officially established.
The crash occurred during the busy summer season on Sifnos, a popular Cyclades island, and comes as emergency services continue to investigate a series of aviation accidents in Greece this month.
