Who was Dave Fiji? Indian-origin pilot killed in helicopter crash in Georgia hours after marrying long-time partner

Dave Fiji, an Indian-origin pilot with Delta Air Lines, was killed in a helicopter crash in Georgia, United States, hours after marrying his long-time partner, Jesni.

The couple boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter following their wedding ceremony in Dawsonville on Friday night. The aircraft was scheduled to fly to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport as part of a post-wedding send-off, according to Atlanta News First.

The helicopter crashed shortly after take-off in a heavily wooded area near the wedding venue. The helicopter pilot was also killed. Jesni survived the crash and is recovering in hospital.

Around 400 guests attended the wedding at The Revere in Dawsonville.

According to family members, Dave and Jesni met through church connections between South Carolina and Georgia and later began a relationship. Dave's father, George Fiji, described them as friends who became life partners. The crash triggered a search operation in the wooded area. George Fiji said it took rescuers several hours to locate the wreckage. Family members said Jesni remained trapped inside the helicopter for nearly six hours before emergency responders found her.

George Fiji said Jesni later told the family she regained consciousness inside the wreckage and found Dave beside her. As a nurse, she recognised that he had died. George said she suffered cuts and bruises but did not sustain any broken bones.

According to his father, Dave had wanted to become a pilot since childhood, he became a first officer for Endeavor Air and later joined Delta Air Lines as a first officer.

George Fiji also said his son had expressed concerns about weather conditions before the flight departed. He said Dave told the helicopter pilot that visibility was poor. According to George, Jesni later recalled that the pilot responded by saying they would fly at a higher altitude. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash.
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