A small private helicopter landed directly on the white volcanic rocks of Sarakiniko beach on the Greek island of Milos recently, allowing its passengers to get out and go swimming in an incident that has drawn criticism over the use of one of Greece’s’ most recognizable natural landscapes.
Video of the landing, recorded by a locals, showed the red helicopter on the rocky shoreline at Sarakiniko, before those on board left the aircraft and headed toward the sea. Greek media reported the incident on Sunday, August 9, after footage began circulating on social media.
The man who recorded the scene, identified in Greek reports as Milos businessman M. Kyritsis, told Greece’s SKAI that he witnessed the helicopter landing at the beach himself. He said the people on board then went swimming, dismissing speculation that the striking images could have been generated by artificial intelligence and therefore being fake.
Greek authorities have since begun examining the incident. The prosecutor of Syros, the capital island of the Cyclades, where Milos belongs administratively, ordered the Milos Police Department to collect preliminary investigative material, including the identities of those involved, to determine whether any criminal offenses were committed. Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority is also examining the landing amid concerns over the safety of the large number of swimmers and visitors at Sarakiniko at the time.
The episode has highlighted a potential gap in the existing regulatory framework governing helicopter landings outside licensed heliports. Under the current rules, pilots have some discretion to select landing sites, provided they consider them suitable, while specific restrictions apply in certain protected areas.
Why is Milos’ Sarakiniko so popular
Sarakiniko, on the northern coast of Milos, is famous for its smooth, almost entirely white volcanic formations, which have been sculpted by wind and the sea and are often compared to a lunar landscape. It is among the island’s most photographed locations and attracts large numbers of visitors during the summer season.
The incident comes as Sarakiniko remains under close scrutiny following a controversy over construction in the wider Kamini-Sarakiniko area. In 2025, work on a proposed hotel development prompted intervention by the Greek Environment Ministry after excavation and construction activity altered the precious landscape.
The ministry later said that the planning process intended to provide stronger protection for Sarakiniko had not been completed. In early 2026, environmental inspectors examining the hotel site described the wider area as having particular ecological and geomorphological value, while finding that the development plot was located within a designated Wildlife Refuge. Authorities ordered steps to restore the affected area.
Sarakiniko’s landscape is formed largely from soft volcanic tuff, a material susceptible to natural erosion. The unusual geology has helped make the beach one of the best-known images associated with Milos and tourism among the most famous and popular Greek islands.
The helicopter episode has brought fresh attention to the pressures many Greek islands face during the height of Greece’s summer tourism season.
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