Indian-origin pilot dies in helicopter crash right after wedding, wife survives, rescued after 6 hours in Georgia

• Indian-origin pilot Dave Fiji died in a helicopter crash in Georgia.
• The crash happened shortly after his wedding ceremony in Dawsonville.
• His wife, Jesni, survived and is recovering in hospital.
• Dave had reportedly raised concerns about poor weather conditions.
• The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

An Indian-origin pilot, Dave Fiji was killed in a helicopter crash in Atlanta, Georgia, just hours after celebrating his wedding, according to a report by Atlanta News First.

Fiji was traveling with his newlywed wife, Jesni, in a Robinson R66 helicopter when it crashed near their wedding venue in Dawsonville on Friday night (29). The pilot of the helicopter also died in the accident.

Jesni survived the crash and is currently recovering at a metro Atlanta hospital, according to the report.

Dave was a pilot with Delta Air Lines. Earlier that day, he and Jesni had exchanged vows in a grand wedding ceremony at The Revere in Dawsonville. Around 400 guests attended the celebration.

Recalling the special moments before the tragedy, Dave’s father, George, said he was admiring his son during the ceremony.

“I was just standing there watching my son and admiring him. He looked so handsome,” George told Atlanta News First.

After the wedding celebrations concluded, the couple boarded a helicopter bound for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. According to family members, the flight had been arranged as a special sendoff before the couple spent their first night as husband and wife at a downtown Atlanta hotel.

However, the helicopter never reached its destination.

Witnesses said the aircraft crashed on a 10,000-acre wooded tract owned by the City of Atlanta and managed by the state of Georgia as a wildlife management area.

Jesni remained trapped in the wreckage for nearly six hours before rescue teams were able to reach her. According to George, she regained consciousness and discovered her husband resting on her chest.

“She saw blood on him, and by then his body was completely cold. She’s a nurse, so she knew he was gone,” George said.

Despite the severity of the crash, Jesni escaped with cuts and bruises. George said she did not suffer any broken bones.

The family revealed that weather conditions may have been a concern before the flight took off. Heavy rain was falling in the area on the night of the wedding, and Dave reportedly questioned whether it was safe to fly.

According to George, Dave told the pilot that visibility was extremely poor. As a first officer with Delta Air Lines, he reportedly pointed out that such conditions represented “zero visibility,” a situation in which “we never fly.”

George also shared Jesni’s account of the moments before the crash. According to her, the pilot told Dave that they would fly at a higher altitude despite the weather conditions.

The exact cause of the accident remains unknown.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash but has not yet released any findings or comments regarding what caused the helicopter to go down.

Reflecting on the heartbreaking loss, George said his family has been searching for strength and comfort in faith.

“Without God there would be many questions — why?” he told Atlanta News First. “God granted us a perfect wedding, and within a few hours, everything changed into tragedy. The only place we can find answers and peace is in God.”

What began as a day of celebration for Dave and Jesni ended in devastating loss, leaving family and friends mourning the death of a groom whose wedding day turned into tragedy within a matter of hours.