A young British couple and their pilot were killed in a helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday, Greek police confirmed. The newlyweds, identified as Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert, were on their honeymoon in Greece when the private Bell 206 helicopter they were traveling in crashed.

The aircraft went down just meters from a designated landing pad, resulting in the tragic deaths of the couple and their Greek pilot. The couple had reportedly chartered the helicopter for travel from Markopoulo, near Athens, to the popular holiday island of Sifnos.

Greece's aviation safety authority has launched an investigation into the incident. Investigators were dispatched to the crash site on Tuesday to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Preliminary reports suggest the crash occurred shortly before the helicopter's scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT).

The implications of the crash are being felt by the couple's employers and the local community. Blackstone, where Mr. Cromie worked, expressed shock at the "tragic passing of three people including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert." Bain Company, where Ms. Ebert was a senior specialist, also released a statement conveying their shock and offering support to the families.

Local officials described the scene as devastating. Sifnos' Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, who arrived shortly after the crash, told local media that "almost nothing was left of the aircraft." Residents reported hearing a "bizarre engine noise" from the helicopter as it approached the landing site. The island's Vice Mayor for tourism, Yiannis Rafeletos, stated that the people of Sifnos are "devastated and deeply shocked," adding that "so much happiness has turned into sorrow."

Emergency services were on the scene to tackle a blaze that erupted following the crash, with firefighters extinguishing the flames by Monday evening. Reports from the scene indicated that two victims were found within the wreckage, while the third was located a short distance away.

The Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing consular support to the families of the British victims and is in contact with Greek authorities. The aviation company that operated the helicopter has also been contacted for comment as the investigation continues.

This incident has cast a shadow over the idyllic holiday destination, with local authorities and international bodies working to understand the exact cause of the fatal crash.