Μake us preferred on Google New video footage has emerged showing the final seconds before a private helicopter crashed near the helipad on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday, killing all three people aboard.
The footage shows the Bell 206 approaching the helipad in the Tholos area shortly before landing when it suddenly begins rotating, loses altitude and crashes close to the landing site. The helicopter then catches fire.
Oh my God!!🥲😥RIP.. #Sifnos pic.twitter.com/Qao79vjmWC
— kostas.Vernikos (@KVernikos) August 18, 2026
The victims were a 55-year-old Greek pilot and a newlywed British couple who had chartered the helicopter for their honeymoon. The flight had departed from the wider Markopoulo area in eastern Attica prefecture – east of Athens proper – and was headed to Sifnos. The pilot had reportedly notified the relevant authorities that he was preparing to land before radio contact went silent for several seconds.
Authorities are examining the video as they seek to reconstruct the aircraft’s final flight path. Witnesses in the area have also reported hearing an unusual noise from the helicopter shortly before it lost control.
Two main possibilities are being examined, namely, a mechanical failure, potentially involving the helicopter’s tail section, or a sudden medical problem affecting the pilot.
An aviation accident expert and former Greek army aviation pilot said the helicopter’s abrupt rotation to the right could be consistent with a malfunction involving the tail rotor system, although no cause has been established.
Weather conditions are also being examined, although the information available so far indicates there were no strong winds in the area when the crash occurred at about 6:17 p.m. Monday.
The pilot was reportedly highly experienced, with thousands of flight hours and previous service in the Greek armed forces. Authorities are also examining his final communication with the control center for any indication that he reported a problem before the crash.
