‘My son was so happy’: Indian-origin newlywed pilot dies in US helicopter crash hours after saying ‘I do’

An Indian-origin pilot died in a helicopter crash in the US just hours after marrying his long-term partner, turning a joyful wedding celebration into a tragedy. The accident also claimed the life of the helicopter pilot, while the bride survived and is recovering in hospital.Dave Fiji and his wife, Jesni, board a Robinson R66 helicopter after their wedding in Dawsonville, Georgia, on Friday night. The helicopter was flying to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport as part of a special send-off planned after the wedding, Atlanta News 1 reported. However, the plane crashed in dense woods near the wedding venue shortly after takeoff.About 400 guests attended the couple’s wedding at The Revere in Dawsonville.Recalling the celebrations, Dave’s father George Fiji said his son was overjoyed on his wedding day.“My son was so happy. I just stood there looking at my son and admiring him. He looked handsome,” he said.According to family members, Dave and Jasni met through church connections between South Carolina and Georgia, and their friendship eventually blossomed into a relationship. “Friends who decided to become lifelong partners,” George said of the couple.The helicopter crashed before reaching its destination, triggering a massive search operation in the wooded area.George Fiji said it took rescuers several hours to find the wreckage. “It took them a while to find the helicopter itself,” he said.According to family members, Jesni was trapped in the wreckage for nearly six hours until emergency crews found her.Describing the heartbreaking scene recounted by her daughter-in-law, George said Jesny realized her husband had died beside her.“She said when she woke up she saw my son Dave lying in her arms. She saw blood on him and his body was completely cold by then. She was a nurse so she knew he was gone,” he said.George said Jesny suffered cuts and bruises but escaped with no broken bones. “She’s devastated, but she’s recovering,” he added.According to Dave Fiji’s father, Dave Fiji dreamed of becoming a pilot since he was a child and later realized this ambition by joining Delta Air Lines as a first officer.George said his son expressed concerns about worsening weather conditions and poor visibility before the helicopter took off.“Ever since my son became a pilot, he has told pilots that the visibility is zero and when the visibility is zero, we will never fly,” George said.According to George, Jesny later told him that the helicopter pilot responded that they would fly to a higher altitude.The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident and has not yet determined the cause of the crash.As the family mourns the death of Dave Fiji, George says their Christian faith is helping them cope with the tragedy.“Without God, there would be so many questions – why? God gave us a perfect wedding and within a few hours everything turned to tragedy. The only place we can find answers and peace is in God,” he said.