•Dave Fiji, an Indian-origin pilot with Delta Air Lines, was killed in a helicopter crash in Georgia, US, hours after marrying his partner Jesni.
•The newlyweds boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter for a post-wedding send-off, which crashed shortly after takeoff in a wooded area near Dawsonville.
•Jesni survived the crash after being trapped in the wreckage for nearly six hours and is recovering in hospital with minor injuries.
•Dave’s father mentioned that Dave had expressed concerns about poor visibility before the flight, and the pilot reportedly decided to fly at a higher altitude.
•Around 400 guests attended the wedding, and Dave and Jesni had met through church connections in South Carolina and Georgia.
•The NTSB is investigating the crash, and the cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
•Dave had wanted to be a pilot since childhood and worked as a first officer at Endeavor Air before joining Delta Air Lines.
An Indian-origin pilot working for Delta Air Lines, Dave Fiji, was killed in a helicopter crash in Georgia, United States, just hours after marrying his longtime partner, Jesni. The incident occurred late Friday night near Dawsonville, where the couple had just exchanged vows.
According to reports, the newlyweds boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter shortly after their wedding at The Revere in Dawsonville. The flight was intended as part of a post-wedding send-off, with the helicopter scheduled to land at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. However, the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in a heavily wooded area close to the wedding venue.
The crash resulted in the death of the pilot, who was also aboard the helicopter. Jesni, Dave’s wife, survived the accident and was rescued after being trapped inside the wreckage for nearly six hours. She is currently recovering in a hospital, suffering from cuts and bruises but with no broken bones. Family members shared that Jesni regained consciousness inside the wreckage and found Dave beside her. As a nurse, she recognized that he had passed away.
The wedding had been attended by around 400 guests. Family members revealed that Dave and Jesni had met through church connections spanning South Carolina and Georgia, later becoming life partners. Dave’s father, George Fiji, described their relationship as one that began as friendship and grew into a lifelong bond.
George Fiji also shared that Dave had expressed concerns about the weather conditions before the flight departed. He stated that Dave had told the helicopter pilot that visibility was poor. According to George, Jesni later recalled that the pilot responded by saying they would fly at a higher altitude to avoid the poor visibility. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now investigating the accident, and authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash.
Dave Fiji had aspired to become a pilot since childhood. He began his career as a first officer with Endeavor Air before joining Delta Air Lines in the same role. His tragic death has left his family and community in mourning, with the crash investigation ongoing to understand the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
