ATLANTA— A Delta Air Lines (DL) first officer of Indian origin, Dave Fiji, was killed in a helicopter crash in the United States just hours after his wedding, turning a day of celebration into tragedy. The helicopter pilot also died in the crash, while Fiji’s wife, Jesni, survived and is recovering in the hospital.
The newlyweds had boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter after their ceremony in Dawsonville, Georgia, bound for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) as a special send-off. The aircraft crashed in a heavily wooded area near the venue shortly after take-off on Friday night.
Delta Pilot Dies in Helicopter Crash
Dave and Jesni Fiji had just celebrated their wedding at The Revere in Dawsonville, Georgia, with around 400 guests in attendance.
As part of a planned send-off, the couple boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter intended to fly them to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). According to Atlanta News First, the aircraft never reached its destination and went down in dense woodland close to the wedding venue.
Dave’s father, George Fiji, described the joy of the day before the crash. He recalled watching his son with pride and said Dave looked happy and handsome on his wedding day.
He described the couple as friends who chose to become life partners, noting that Dave and Jesni first met through church connections between South Carolina and Georgia before their friendship grew into a relationship.
The Search and Rescue Operation
The crash triggered a major search across the wooded area surrounding the venue. George Fiji said rescuers needed several hours to locate the wreckage because of the difficult, forested terrain.
According to the family, Jesni remained trapped inside the helicopter for nearly six hours before emergency responders reached her.
George said his daughter-in-law later described waking beside her husband and realising he had died. As a nurse, she recognised that he was already gone. Jesni suffered cuts and bruises, but no broken bones, and the family said she is devastated but recovering.
Concerns Raised Before Take-Off
George Fiji said his son had voiced concern about the weather before the helicopter departed. Because Dave was a trained pilot, he reportedly warned that visibility was effectively zero and that flying in such conditions was unsafe.
According to George, Jesni later told him that the helicopter pilot responded by saying they would fly at a higher altitude. The aircraft took off despite those concerns and crashed before reaching the airport.
A Lifelong Dream of Flying
Dave Fiji had wanted to become a pilot since childhood. He achieved that goal by joining Delta Air Lines (DL) as a first officer, a milestone his father described with pride.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident and has not yet determined the cause of the crash.
As the family mourns, George Fiji said their Christian faith is helping them cope with the sudden loss. He described the wedding as perfect and said that within hours, everything changed into tragedy. For the family, he said, faith remains the only place to find answers and peace.
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