A joyful wedding celebration turned into a tragedy when an Indian-origin groom was killed in a helicopter crash just hours after his marriage in the US state of Georgia.
The victim, Dave Fiji, 25, was a pilot with Delta Air Lines and lived in Atlanta. He died when the helicopter carrying him, his newlywed wife, and the pilot crashed near Dawsonville on Friday.
His wife, Jessni, survived the crash and is receiving treatment in hospital. The helicopter pilot also died in the accident.
The couple had got married earlier that day at a wedding venue near Dawsonville in the presence of hundreds of guests.
Dave’s parents, George and Pheba Fiji, are originally from Muvattupuzha in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, while Jessni’s family has roots in Alappuzha, Kerala.
According to family members, the wedding went smoothly and the newlyweds were scheduled to travel by helicopter to Atlanta after the ceremony.
However, weather conditions reportedly worsened by the end of the reception, with rain and fog reducing visibility.
Dave, an experienced commercial pilot, had expressed concerns about flying in such weather. His father said Dave had told the family that he would not normally fly in those conditions.
Despite the concerns, the helicopter took off and later crashed in a remote, heavily wooded area near Dawsonville.
George Fiji said Jessni remained trapped under wreckage and fallen trees for nearly five hours before rescue teams reached her.
Although she suffered cuts and bruises, she did not sustain any broken bones. Family members said she is devastated by the loss of her husband.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the helicopter crashed around 10:30 pm with three people on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
The tragic incident has left both families in shock, turning what was meant to be the happiest day of their lives into a heartbreaking loss.
