Tragic Helicopter Crash on Wedding Day
In a heartbreaking incident, 25-year-old Delta pilot Dave Fiji lost his life on what was meant to be a joyful wedding day. The accident occurred when a Robinson R-66 helicopter carrying him and his bride, Jesni, crashed in the forests of Georgia.
The couple had just celebrated their nuptials near Dawsonville with hundreds of friends and family before setting off excitedly for their honeymoon. However, poor weather conditions turned their joyous occasion into tragedy.
Dave Fiji, whose family hails from Kerala, shared vows with Jesni at a venue called The Revere. His father, George Fiji, expressed his grief to local news, saying, “He was our precious child, a gift from God.” Meanwhile, Dave’s mother, Pheba, described a profound spiritual feeling during the ceremony, highlighting a special glow on her son’s face.
As the evening progressed, the couple began to wind down their celebrations around 9:30 PM, but the weather took a turn for the worse. Despite the challenging conditions, the pilot, who also lost his life in the crash, opted to ascend to a higher altitude amidst the rain and fog.
The helicopter, which was on its way to Peachtree-DeKalb airport so the newlyweds could continue their celebration in downtown Atlanta, tragically went down in a remote wooded area shortly after takeoff. George shared that Jesni was trapped under debris for nearly five hours before rescuers were able to reach her.
When Jesni regained consciousness, she found herself under the wreckage, with Dave lying next to her. As a nurse, she attempted to revive him, only to discover he was already cold.
Jesni is currently recovering from cuts and bruises at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and is expected to return home in a few days. Describing her emotional state, George mentioned that she is “devastated” by the loss.
Endeavour Air, the airline where Dave worked, released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss of their colleague. Dave joined Endeavour in March 2025.
The National Transportation Safety Board is actively investigating the crash, which involved a helicopter owned by Prestige Helicopters based at Peachtree-DeKalb airport.
