German Pilots Say Blocked Helipad Forced Beach Landing on Spetses; Passenger Released After Drugs Found in Sea

Two German pilots told Greek authorities a helicopter landing on Spetses' crowded Zogeria beach was forced because parked motorcycles blocked the island's official helipad.

Original report
www.tovima.com

Industry impact

The episode highlights how inadequate ground infrastructure at small island helipads can push private helicopter operations into unauthorized, safety-sensitive landing sites.

Two German pilots who landed a helicopter on the crowded Zogeria beach on the Greek island of Spetses told authorities they were forced to do so because the island's official helipad was blocked by parked motorcycles, making the designated landing area unusable. The helicopter, registered in Austria, had taken off from Keratea in eastern Attica, and the pilots were not arrested under Greece's expedited arrest procedure but gave statements to investigators.

A 39-year-old Greek businessman on board was initially detained on suspicion of violating drug laws after he was seen throwing a bag into the sea during the landing. Police recovered the bag, which contained 0.5 grams of cocaine and an amount of hashish, and prosecutors subsequently ordered his release.

A foreign woman who had been traveling with the businessman remains unaccounted for, and authorities are searching for her. The pair had originally planned to board a yacht offshore and ultimately left the beach by water taxi. The investigation into the circumstances of the landing remains ongoing.