British couple on honeymoon killed in helicopter crash on Greek island of Sifnos

The newlyweds, named as Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, were killed alongside their Greek pilot.

Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert stand arm in arm and smile. Alexander is wearing a tan suit and sunglasses. Marie is also wearing sunglasses and a floral dress.

A young British couple and their pilot were killed in a helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday, Greek police have said.

They have been named as newlyweds Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, who were in Greece on their honeymoon.

The private helicopter crashed just metres from a landing pad, killing the pair and their pilot, a Greek national.

The couple are said to have taken the helicopter from the village of Markopoulo near Athens to the popular holiday island, Kathimerini reported.

Greece's aviation safety authority told the BBC it was investigating the crash and that its investigators were heading to the scene on Tuesday to gather evidence and speak to witnesses.

Plume of black smoke seen at site of deadly helicopter crash

A Foreign Office spokesperson told the BBC: "Our thoughts are with the families during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and in contact with the Greek authorities."

The BBC has contacted Greek authorities and the aviation company for comment.

Asset management firm Blackstone, where Cromie worked, said in a statement: "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.

"Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones."

A senior police official told the Times that the crash came just before the helicopter's scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT).

Alexander Cromie smiles in a tuxedo while holding a glass of wine.

Cromie worked for Asset management firm Blackstone

Sifnos' Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and told local news site Newsit there was almost "nothing left" of the aircraft.

He said locals saw the helicopter crash within metres of their homes and had described a "bizarre engine noise coming from the aircraft" as it was about to land.

Two-panel map of Greece showing the location of an approximate crash site near the island of Sifnos in the Aegean Sea. The upper panel locates Sifnos among the Cyclades islands southeast of Athens, with Athens and Markopoulo labelled. An inset map of Greece highlights the area shown. The lower panel is a satellite image of Sifnos, with a callout marking the “Approximate location of crash” on the island’s eastern coast. Scale bars indicate 20 km and 10 miles on the regional map, and 2 km and 1 mile on the satellite image.

He said two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was a short distance away.

Firefighters worked to tackle a blaze which broke out after the crash, and the flames had been extinguished by Monday evening.

A few people are seen working at a blackened site on a mountain

Emergency services personnel and locals were pictured working at the crash site to extinguish flames