India Tribune Newsdesk
Atlanta, GA: An Indian-origin Delta Air Lines pilot died in a helicopter crash in Georgia only hours after his wedding ceremony, while his bride survived and was later rescued after being trapped under debris for nearly five hours.
The victim, 25-year-old Dave Fiji, was flying a Robinson R66 helicopter carrying himself and his new wife, Jessni, when the aircraft went down near Dawsonville in Dawson County on May 30. The couple had just celebrated their wedding earlier that day at The Revere, a well-known venue in the area, surrounded by family and hundreds of guests.
According to authorities and family accounts, the celebration ended in sudden tragedy when the couple departed by helicopter, which was meant to transport them to Peachtree-DeKalb Airport before continuing on to a hotel in downtown Atlanta. The flight never reached its destination.
Dave Fiji, an Atlanta-based commercial pilot with Delta, was killed in the crash. His wife, Jessni, sustained multiple injuries but survived. She was discovered alive after being pinned beneath wreckage and fallen trees in a remote, heavily wooded area. Rescue teams worked through difficult terrain to reach the site, where access was restricted by dense vegetation and rugged ground.
Family members said weather conditions deteriorated around the time of departure, with heavy rain and fog significantly reducing visibility. His father, George Fiji, said his son had expressed concern about flying in such conditions, noting that he was cautious about safety. Despite this, the helicopter took off and reportedly climbed to a higher altitude before the crash occurred.
Jessni, who works as a nurse, survived without fractures but suffered cuts, bruises, and significant trauma. She remains hospitalized and is receiving treatment, while grieving the sudden loss of her husband.
George and Pheba Fiji, the pilot’s parents, originally emigrated to the United States from Muvattupuzha in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. The family described the wedding as joyful and perfect, making the aftermath even more devastating to process.
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it received reports of a possible downed helicopter late on May 30. Emergency responders used off-road vehicles and conducted search operations through difficult terrain to locate the wreckage and survivors.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a formal investigation into the crash. Officials have stated that a preliminary report is expected within 30 days as they work to determine the cause of the accident.
