Indian-origin pilot dies in Georgia helicopter crash hours after wedding, bride survives

A joyous flight for a newlywed couple for their honeymoon turned tragic with the groom, an Indian origin man with roots in Kerala, dying in a helicopter crash just hours after his wedding in Georgia, US. The incident took place when the deceased, identified as Dave Fiji (26), a Delta Air Lines pilot, boarded a Robinson R66 chopper along with his wife as they set off for their honeymoon. However, they never reached their destination as the chopper soon crashed near the wedding venue in Dawsonville.

The helicopter pilot, whose identity is yet to be released by the authorities, also died in the crash, which took place on Friday (May 29), reported the Atlanta News First.

The report further stated that Fiji’s wife, Jessni, a nurse by profession who survived the crash, is currently recovering at a metro Atlanta hospital.

Father recalls son’s happiness

Reacting to the development, Fiji’s father, George, said, "My son was so happy," adding that his son got married on Friday to Jessni, a decade after he first met her at New Testament Church. The wedding at The Revere in Dawsonville was attended by around 400 guests.

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After the wedding, the couple boarded the helicopter and headed for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Georgia's second-busiest airport.

However, soon after taking off, the chopper crashed in a remote wooded area of Dawson County near Mount Vernon Drive, near the wedding venue.

Bride trapped in wreckage for hours

According to the father of the deceased, it took some time before the authorities could locate the chopper following the crash. She further revealed that as a result of the delay, Jessni, who suffered multiple cuts and bruises in the crash, remained trapped in the wreckage for nearly six hours.

When she came to her senses, she found that her husband was no more, as his body was completely cold.

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"She said when she woke up she saw my son Dave resting on her bosom. She saw blood on him, and by then his body was completely cold. She's a nurse, so she knew he was gone," said George Fiji.

"She's devastated, but she's recovering," he added.

Victim had raised visibility concerns

He further revealed that Dave, himself being a first officer for Delta Air Lines, warned the pilot that there was zero visibility and he would never fly in such a situation.

"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," added George.

However, the chopper pilot told Dave that he would fly at a higher altitude. Following the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board has launched a probe and is yet to ascertain the reason behind the crash.