Jack Fenton reportedly visited the Greek island Mykonos and was about to return to his home in the U.K..
A 22-year-old British tourist has been killed in Greece after being hit by the propeller of a helicopter Monday evening, according to media reports. Fenton's parents were reportedly in a second helicopter, which had not yet landed at the time of the accident. The pilot of that helicopter, after being alerted by his colleagues on the ground, chose to divert to another airport so the parents would not have to witness the scene of the accident, the Independent reported.
A group of British tourists had rented two helicopters to island hop when the young man reportedly stepped into the moving blade.
After the young man was killed, the second pilot made a snap decision not to land and instead flew to Athens where they were met by authorities who told them of their son’s fate. His phone was also destroyed in the accident, Greek media reported. After checking surveillance footage and interviewing workers, Greece’s Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation Board determined that Fenton safely disembarked and then turned back and ran towards the helicopter.
Greek police have arrested the pilot as investigations into the accident begin.
According to local reports, the pilot of the black Bell 407 craft and two ground technicians have been arrested as police investigate. “They were transferred this morning to Athens where they will face a court hearing. We hope that the British man’s family will stay strong.” Witnesses we spoke to said he had a phone to his ear and was walking to the aircraft quickly, defying ground crew shouting to him, ‘Stop! Stop! “How the accident happened is still under investigation. Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
It has been said that the helicopter's pilot is being probed to check if he 'informed passengers' to get out only when 'the propeller and engines stopped'
Staff working at the helipad reportedly insisted that Fenton “turned around and returned to the runway as the craft was in the process of being shut down.” Meanwhile, the pilot and the two other staff members were presented before a prosecutor to give their testimonies. “He flew on to another helipad at Athens where the couple were consoled as it was confirmed that the young man was dead. The helicopter door has no security, anyone who wants to open the door and get out. A police official, who identified the 22-year-old, said, “He was the first to disembark the Bell 407 helicopter in Athens and as he moved to the back, he was hit in the head by the aircraft’s small rear rotor. Soon after the incident, the pilot of the helicopter and two ground technicians were reportedly taken into custody. An insider said, “The pilot saw what had happened and decided to spare the parents the sight of their son - it was horrendous.”
Three people are arrested in connection with the death of 22-year-old Jack Fenton, from Kent.
"He was a very popular member of the community, and we have sent our condolences to the family. They are facing charges of negligent homicide. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO) said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece."
Jack Fenton, 22, was struck in the head by helicopter's rotor blade after a flight from Mykonos to Athens; The Oxford Brookes student had been on holiday ...
Also keep in mind that the propellers are not visible because of the speed.' 'I've heard people say Jack was on his phone and ran back to the helicopter and this is totally untrue. 'We disembarked on our own and no one stopped Jack from going to the rear of the helicopter. 'There are two propellers on the helicopter. Jack Fenton (circled) is pictured on holiday in Mykonos with his friends before the tragic accident. It was instant. All they did was open the doors for us. Mr Kandyllis said they were expected to retrieve the victim's mobile phone to examine who he was contacting at the time of the accident and the reasons that led him to return to the helicopter 'Jack and his friends had got a helicopter from Athens to Mykonos without any problems and so did the same again, they got a helicopter from Mykonos back to Athens. The young Briton horrifically killed in a helicopter accident in Athens was on holiday with a group of friends 'But as they were in the lounge the victim broke away and returned to the tarmac rushing to the helicopter at a fast pace. The tourists had flown from Mykonos to the helipad in Spata and were due to take a private limousine to Eleftherios Venizelos airport
Three arrested after Jack Fenton hit by rear rotor while reportedly trying to take a selfie at heliport in Athens.
The victim, identified as Jack Fenton, was killed instantly. “We have interviewed witnesses including the [three] friends who were travelling with him,” an officer said. “Our inquiry has focused on possible negligence,” a police source said.
Jack Fenton, a British tourist, was killed by a helicopter blade as he tried to snap a selfie in Greece — and now three crew members are under arrest, ...
The helicopter crew can face charges of negligent homicide, according to the news outlet. “The helicopter door has no security, anyone who wants to open the door and get out,” Girgos Kalliakmanis told local media, the Guardian reported. “Our inquiry has focused on possible negligence,” a police source told the news outlet.
Friends of the British man killed by a helicopter rotor in Greece have angrily rubbished claims he was somehow responsible for his own death.
He was the most wonderful boy. ‘I’ve heard people say Jack was on his phone and ran back to the helicopter and this is totally untrue. ‘We disembarked on our own and no one stopped Jack from going to the rear of the helicopter. She told the Mail earlier: ‘We only found out what happened at 10pm last night. All they did was open the doors for us. He was not on his phone and why he turned towards the rear of the helicopter I don’t know.’
Jack Stanton-Gleaves, who was with friends in the Bell 407 helicopter that tragically killed Jack Fenton, 22, rubbished claims by local authorities that the ...
Also keep in mind that the propellers are not visible because of the speed.' 'I've heard people say Jack was on his phone and ran back to the helicopter and this is totally untrue. 'We disembarked on our own and no one stopped Jack from going to the rear of the helicopter. Jack Fenton (circled) is pictured on holiday in Mykonos with his friends before the tragic accident. 'There are two propellers on the helicopter. It was instant. All they did was open the doors for us. Mr Kandyllis said they were expected to retrieve the victim's mobile phone to examine who he was contacting at the time of the accident and the reasons that led him to return to the helicopter 'Jack and his friends had got a helicopter from Athens to Mykonos without any problems and so did the same again, they got a helicopter from Mykonos back to Athens. The young Briton horrifically killed in a helicopter accident in Athens was on holiday with a group of friends 'But as they were in the lounge the victim broke away and returned to the tarmac rushing to the helicopter at a fast pace. The tourists had flown from Mykonos to the helipad in Spata and were due to take a private limousine to Eleftherios Venizelos airport
The mum of the young man who was tragically killed by a helicopter blade while on holiday has paid tribute to him in a moving statement.
Meanwhile a spokesman for the Greek police told The Telegraph : “All three face charges of negligent homicide. The helicopter’s pilot and two ground crew who had been working at the private heliport have now been detained for questioning, ANA, Greece’s state news agency, said. It was instant,"
Jack Fenton, 22, was alighting a Bell 407 helicopter at a private airport in Athens when he was fatally hit by the aircraft's rear rotor killing him instantly.
Witnesses we spoke to said he had a phone to his ear and was walking to the aircraft quickly, defying ground crew shouting to him, ‘Stop! Stop!’ He told MailOnline passengers disembarked on their own and were not escorted to a private lounge. It’s such a shame he was such a great boy.” We hope that the British man’s family will stay strong.” “How the accident happened is still under investigation. No one knows why, we don’t know if he forgot something or was going around to the other side but obviously it was dark and it hit the back of his head,” she said.
Investigator says key concern is why aircraft's engines were still engaged when 22-year-old disembarked.
“We cannot just accept what they say,” he said, referring to Superior Air. “They have to show proof. All could face charges of involuntary manslaughter if alleged to have been negligent. Local media reported Fenton had been running back towards the aircraft’s tail with his mobile phone in hand as horrified onlookers shouted at him to stop.
Greek investigators ruled out the possibility that helicopter victim Jack Fenton was attempting to take a selfie when he tragically died, MailOnline has ...
'I've heard people say Jack was on his phone and ran back to the helicopter and this is totally untrue. 'We disembarked on our own and no one stopped Jack from going to the rear of the helicopter. According to the testimonies, he was holding a mobile phone which he had to his ear, without us knowing if he was talking to someone.’ Also keep in mind that the propellers are not visible because of the speed.' All they did was open the doors for us. ‘We are still in the process of completing our interviews but a number of eyewitnesses saw him with a mobile phone in his hand, moments before he was killed. The group included six in total. He said: ‘We have taken statements from both the pilot and the two ground staff. Daisy added: 'No one knows exactly what led him back [towards the tail rotor]. Perhaps he forgot something. Jack Fenton (circled) is pictured on holiday in Mykonos with his friends before the tragic accident. That is, as they said, one ground employee went to the left door, one to the right, they disembarked and escorted them 20 meters to the building. Daisy told MailOnline: 'No one knows exactly what led him back [towards the tail rotor]. Perhaps he forgot something.