Sifnos: A couple of tourists and the pilot dead at helicopter crash

A couple from Britain and the helicopter pilot are the victims of the helicopter crash on Sifnos.

Specifically, reports state that the deceased were a newlywed couple from Britain and the pilot was a Greek national. The couple had reportedly chartered the private helicopter to travel from Attica to Sifnos for their vacation.

According to information from MEGA via the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB), one body was found a few meters away, indicating an attempt to escape.

The helicopter had taken off from Markopoulo bound for Sifnos and crashed shortly after 18:00 while in the process of landing at the island’s helipad.

Following the crash, the helicopter burst into flames, likely due to fuel ignition.

According to ERT reports, the helicopter was under Greek registration.

Witnesses report hearing a loud noise, consistent with a mechanical failure, shortly before the crash. Furthermore, calm weather conditions with no wind prevailed in the area at the time of the incident.

So far, further details regarding the exact circumstances under which the crash occurred have not been released.

According to the Fire Service update, the Operations Center was notified of the incident at 18:17 on the afternoon of August 17, 2026.

Two firefighters with one vehicle operated to extinguish the resulting fire, while a rescue team traveled from Syros aboard a Fire Service RAFNAR speedboat.