Greek authorities have arrested the 57-year-old pilot of a private helicopter that crashed into the sea off Vouliagmeni with four American tourists on board, all of whom safely escaped, officials said.
The incident prompted an immediate investigation into the cause of the dramatic plunge.
The incident unfolded shortly after the aircraft took off from Aspropyrgos and briefly landed at the Astir Vouliagmeni marina to pick up passengers for a flight to Mykonos.
Shortly after liftoff, strong gusts of wind reportedly caused the helicopter to tilt and plunge into the water on its forward right side, authorities stated.
The four passengers — two men and two women — along with the pilot, managed to get out of the submerged aircraft and swim toward nearby rocks. A small boat quickly retrieved them to safety.
All of the five people on board were unharmed, although a pregnant woman among the passengers was taken to a private maternity clinic as a precaution.
The Hellenic Coast Guard arrested the pilot on charges of dangerous interference with transportation, causing bodily harm by negligence, and violations of the Air Navigation Code. The helicopter was subsequently raised from the water with a crane and diver and taken to Tatoi airport for further investigation by civil aviation authorities.