Authorities have arrested the 57-year-old pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the sea during takeoff on Sunday in Vouliagmeni, a coastal suburb south of Athens, the Hellenic Coast Guard said.
HDN Newsroom
The pilot was taken into custody by the Vouliagmeni Port Authority, which is leading the preliminary investigation. He faces charges of endangering transportation safety, bodily harm through negligence, and failing to follow crew procedures in an emergency.
The helicopter had taken off earlier from Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, and landed at the upscale Astir Marina in Vouliagmeni to collect four US nationals – two men and two women – for a flight to the island of Mykonos.
According to investigators, the aircraft hovered about one metre above ground when it was destabilized by strong gusts of wind and plunged into the sea, nose-first on its starboard side.
All five people on board, including the pilot, swam to nearby rocks and were rescued by a marina vessel. They were safely brought ashore. Medical personnel examined the passengers, who were reported to be in good health. One pregnant woman was transferred to a private maternity clinic as a precaution.
Emergency response protocols were activated immediately, with coast guard personnel, a patrol vessel, and emergency medics dispatched to the scene. A private diver, the Hellenic Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board (HARSIA), and the Civil Aviation Authority were also notified.
A floating containment boom was placed around the wreckage by marina staff. The helicopter was later recovered with the help of a crane and transferred to the Tatoi Airport facility north of Athens for further investigation.
The pilot was released pending the outcome of the inquiry.
