Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has uncovered tax violations exceeding 300,000 euros at companies that operate helicopters, as part of a sweeping investigation codenamed "Anomalous Landing." The probe was launched after reports emerged of helicopters landing at unlicensed sites on Greece's islands.
Auditors from AADE's DEOS financial crimes unit are examining who owns and manages the aircraft, how they are actually used, and whether the companies that profit from them are meeting their tax obligations. Investigators drew on data from Greece's Civil Aviation Authority and requested administrative assistance from an authority in another European Union country to gather additional information.
Cyclades helicopter case
One of the cases under scrutiny involves a helicopter registered in Greece that recently landed on an island in the Cyclades. The investigation found that the helicopter belongs to a Cypriot company and is reportedly leased in Greece to a non-profit association. A separate company, active in air transport and pilot training and based at an airport in the Attica region, appears as the operator exploiting the aircraft.
DEOS auditors carried out extensive cross-checks using data from AADE's databases and digital systems. According to the findings, investigators identified a mismatch between the helicopter's actual use, which they say included leasing it out to third parties, and the tax documents issued to record the corresponding income. The tax violations uncovered in this case alone exceed 300,000 euros. Authorities are still assessing the total scale of the tax evasion involved and the fines that could follow from using the helicopter for commercial gain.
Second case in the Argosaronikos
AADE auditors are also investigating a second case involving a helicopter registered in Austria that landed on an island in the Argosaronikos, the group of islands near the Saronic Gulf. That aircraft belongs to an Austrian company, while the entity acting as its operator is a legal entity based in Attica.
In this case, investigators are examining the true nature of the transactions and services provided, the financial relationships between the parties involved, and whether tax obligations have been properly met. According to the findings of the investigation, the company in question is believed to have concealed VAT amounting to 25,000 euros in August alone.
Background to the crackdown
AADE is Greece's tax collection authority, responsible for enforcing tax compliance and pursuing cases of suspected tax evasion across the country. Value-added tax, or VAT, is a consumption tax applied to most goods and services in Greece and across the European Union, and companies are required to declare and remit it to the state based on their actual revenue.
The operation targeting helicopter operators follows media reports of aircraft landing at sites without the required licensing on Greek islands, prompting AADE to widen its scrutiny beyond aviation rules to the tax affairs of the companies behind the flights.
Investigation ongoing
AADE said its checks are continuing, with further cross-referencing of available data and an ongoing evaluation of the transactional and contractual relationships between the individuals and legal entities involved, both in Greece and abroad.
