A DAMAGED rotor blade could have caused the chopper crash that killed Brit newlyweds honeymooning in Greece last week.
Alexander Cromie, 31, and Marie Ebert, 30, died alongside a Greek pilot in a horror helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday.
Marie Ebert, 30, and Alexander Cromie, 31, died in a horror helicopter crash in Greece Credit: Enterprise
Investigators are looking into a potential tail rotor failure Credit: Reuters
Witnesses saw the Bell 206 spinning out of control, suggesting a tail rotor failure, before it plummeted to the ground.
Horrifying footage showed the aircraft hurtling towards the ground and exploding in a fireball.
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Investigators are reportedly considering if the deadly crash is linked to an incident involving the same chopper just 11 weeks earlier.
Straps had been put in place after the helicopter landed on Paros on June 1 to stop tail blades moving in high winds.
CHOPPER TRAGEDY
Brit newlywed couple killed in helicopter crash on Greek honeymoon pictured
TRAGIC FLIGHT
Moment chopper spins out of control before killing Brit newlyweds in Greece
But, according to a report filed with Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority, the pilot did not ensure the straps were removed before starting the engine to fly passengers back from the island.
Records suggest the chopper stayed in Paros for three days after the incident with the straps.
It was then given an air-worthiness certificate just over a month later, on July 2.
As a precaution, Greece‘s civil aviation authority has ruled that “visual and functional checks” on tail rotors must be carried out before every flight in the country involving a Bell 206 helicopter.
The helicopter was destroyed in a huge fire after the crash Credit: Reuters
Emergency personnel and locals work at the site of a helicopter crash on the island of Sifnos Credit: Reuters
A serious fire destroyed most of the chopper, complicating efforts to investigate the crash.
The small private aircraft crashed while attempting to land on a helipad in Sifnos at around 6.15pm local time.
Both Brits and the pilot were confirmed dead at the scene as fire crews rushed to extinguish the inferno.
Alex was a vice president in private wealth solutions for US-based investment management company Blackstone.
A spokesperson for the company said: “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.”
Bristol-born Alex graduated in economics at Sheffield University before launching his career at banks including NatWest and BNP Paribas.
Marie landed her role as senior specialist in market reputation at top London firm Bain & Co last July after forging a career in asset management, private equity, and consulting.
They paid tribute to the Brit, saying: “We are shocked to read reports of a tragic accident in Greece regarding one of our colleagues and her husband.
“Our thoughts and support are with the families involved at this very difficult time.”
Deputy Mayor of Sifnos, Manolis Fountoulakis told ERTnews: “According to the testimonies of the residents of the area, they heard the noise of the helicopter, it was a strange noise.
“It probably had a mechanical failure in the air. This is because the propeller was doing something strange… it was making a very loud noise.”
