Just married, then disaster: Indian-origin pilot killed in US helicopter crash

Twenty-six-year-old Dave Fiji, whose family traces its roots to Kerala, died when the Robinson R66 helicopter carrying the newlyweds crashed in a wooded area of Dawson County shortly after takeoff from their wedding venue.

Dream wedding ends in tragedy

Dave Fiji, a first officer with Delta Air Lines, married Jessni, a nurse, on Friday in a ceremony attended by around 400 guests at The Revere in Dawsonville.

According to family members, the couple had known each other for nearly a decade after meeting through their church community.

Following the wedding reception, the newlyweds boarded a helicopter bound for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport as part of a special sendoff before spending the night in downtown Atlanta.

However, the aircraft never reached its destination and crashed near Mount Vernon Drive, not far from the wedding venue.

The helicopter pilot was also killed in the crash. Authorities have not yet released the pilot's identity.

Bride found beside husband's body

Jessni survived the crash but suffered injuries and remained trapped inside the wreckage for nearly six hours before rescuers located the helicopter, according to Dave's father, George Fiji.

Recalling her account of the incident, George Fiji said Jessni regained consciousness to find her husband lying against her. As a nurse, she quickly realised he had died.

Though physically recovering in a metro Atlanta hospital, Jessni remains devastated by the loss, family members said.

Pilot had raised weather concerns

Dave's father said his son had expressed concerns about weather conditions before the flight departed.

According to him, Dave warned the helicopter pilot about poor visibility and questioned whether it was safe to fly.

The pilot reportedly responded that the aircraft would operate at a higher altitude despite the conditions.

The cause of the crash remains unclear. The investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has not yet determined what brought down the helicopter.