The 39-year-old Greek businessman arrested after a helicopter landed on a crowded beach on the Greek island of Spetses has been released on prosecutors’ orders, while authorities continue investigating the incident.
The helicopter landed on the busy Zogeria beach on Saturday, causing alarm among beachgoers. The businessman was initially detained on suspicion of violating Greece’s drug laws after he was seen throwing a bag into the sea during the landing.
Police later recovered the bag from the water. It contained 0.5 grams of cocaine and an amount of hashish.
Female passenger remains missing
The foreign woman who was traveling with the 39-year-old remains unaccounted for, and authorities are searching for her.
According to information reported by Greek media, the pair had initially planned to board a yacht located offshore. They ultimately left the beach by water taxi.
What the German pilots told authorities
The helicopter’s two German pilots were not arrested under Greece’s expedited arrest procedure, but they gave statements to authorities.
The helicopter was registered in Austria and had taken off from Keratea, in eastern Attica.
In their statements, the pilots said they had been forced to land on the beach because they could not approach the official helipad on Spetses.
They reportedly told authorities that the landing area was blocked by parked motorcycles, making it impossible for them to use the designated helipad.
The investigation into the circumstances of the landing and the events surrounding the helicopter’s arrival on the crowded beach remains ongoing.
