What was meant to be one of the most joyful days in a young couple’s life turned into tragedy when the groom was killed in a helicopter crash shortly after their wedding.
Dave and Jesni Fiji, both 25, married in Georgia on Friday (May 29) in front of more than 400 guests.
According to Dave’s father, the celebration had been a “perfect” day — but it ended in devastating circumstances.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter, planning to fly to Atlanta for their honeymoon.
The flight never reached its destination. The aircraft went down in a wooded area near Dawsonville.
It’s reported that Dave — who was also a pilot — was uneasy about the weather before departure, but the pilot (who has not been identified) reportedly reassured them it was safe to take off.
Dave and the pilot died in the crash. Jesni survived and is said to have escaped with relatively minor injuries.
Jesni, who works as a nurse, reportedly regained awareness after the impact to find Dave lying against her. With her medical training, she is said to have immediately realized he had not survived.
Following the incident, Dave’s father, George, spoke with Atlanta News First about what he says happened before the helicopter lifted off.
“Since my son was a pilot, he told the pilot that there is zero visibility and when there is zero visibility like this, we never fly,” he said of the moments prior to them getting on the aircraft. George was a pilot for Delta Airlines.
George said the pilot responded to the concern by telling them the helicopter would fly at a higher altitude.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and is expected to determine whether weather conditions contributed.
George also described what Jesni told him she saw after regaining consciousness at the crash site.
“She said when she woke up she saw my son Dave resting on her bosom,” he said. “She saw blood on him, and by then his body was completely cold. She’s a nurse, so she knew he was gone.”
Jesni reportedly suffered several cuts but no broken bones, and she was taken to hospital for treatment.
“She’s devastated, but she’s recovering,” he added.
Speaking separately to WSB-TV, George again said the wedding day had been “perfect” until the fatal flight.
Dave’s mother, Pheba, also shared her memories of the day, saying: “There was a special glow and glory over [Dave’s] face that we couldn’t explain. And it was not just us who noticed.”
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