- By Ajeet Kumar
- Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:17 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Indian-origin pilot died hours after his wedding.
- Newlywed wife survived helicopter crash with injuries.
- Groom warned pilot about bad weather conditions.
What began as the happiest day of their lives turned into unimaginable tragedy within hours. A 25-year-old Indian-origin pilot, who had tied the knot in a dream wedding attended by hundreds of guests, died in a devastating helicopter crash in the US state of Georgia. The incident happened hours after the wedding. According to a report by Atlanta News First, the bride miraculously survived.
Dave Fiji, an Atlanta-based pilot with Delta Air Lines, was among two people killed after a five-seater Robinson helicopter crashed near Dawsonville on Friday night. His newlywed wife, Jessni, survived with injuries and is undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.
Why was couple flying on helicopter just after marriage?
The couple had married earlier that day at The Revere, a wedding venue near Dawsonville, surrounded by family and friends. Dave’s father, George Fiji, recalled the celebrations as “the perfect wedding,” saying nothing could have prepared them for what followed.
(Dave Fiji with her wife | CREDIT: Atlanta News First)
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As part of the wedding plans, the newlyweds were to leave the venue in a helicopter and head to Atlanta before spending the night at a hotel. But worsening weather conditions, including dense fog and rain, had reportedly made flying risky.
Groom had warned the pilot of bad weather before takeoff
George Fiji said his son, an experienced pilot himself, was uncomfortable with the visibility and had expressed concerns before takeoff. Yet the helicopter eventually departed after the pilot reportedly chose to fly at a higher altitude.
“Since my son was a pilot, he told the pilot that there is zero visibility, and when there is zero visibility like this, we never fly,” the victim’s father said.
Moments later, disaster struck
The aircraft crashed into a remote, densely wooded mountainous area, killing Dave and the helicopter pilot. Jessni remained trapped beneath wreckage and fallen trees for nearly five hours before rescue teams reached her.
In a heartbreaking detail shared by Dave’s father, Jessni later said she woke up under the debris to find her husband lying motionless on her chest. “My son was so happy,” Dave’s father said. “She touched him, called out to him… but he was already cold,” George said.
Dave’s parents, originally from Kerala’s Ernakulam district, had moved to the US years ago. Jessni’s family also traces its roots to Kerala. Authorities have launched an investigation into the crash, with a preliminary report expected in the coming weeks.
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