A wedding in rural Georgia ended in tragedy when the helicopter carrying the newlywed couple crashed shortly after takeoff, killing the groom and the pilot. The bride survived with injuries.
The groom, 25-year-old Dave Fiji, and the pilot died in the crash on Friday evening in Dawson County, according to local reports. The bride, identified as Jessni, was hospitalised with bruises and cuts and is expected to be released in the coming days.
The couple had boarded the helicopter after their wedding, heading to Peachtree-DeKalb Airport. The groom’s father, George, told WSB-TV that his son, who was also a pilot, had expressed concerns about fog and rainy weather. “He said I wouldn’t fly, we would not fly in this visibility,” George said.
The helicopter struck tall trees and landed in a heavily wooded area, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). There was no fire, and investigators have recovered all major components. The NTSB is conducting a weather study to assess the impact of rain showers, low-level clouds, and thunderstorms in the area.
The bride was trapped in the wreckage for hours. George recounted that she woke up to find her husband lying on her chest. “She herself is a nurse. When she touched him, she called out to him. He was already cold,” he said.
The helicopter was owned by Prestige Helicopters, an Atlanta-based company. Andy Whitaker, director of operations, said the incident was unprecedented and that the company had a spotless flying record for decades. The pilot, who has not been publicly identified, had flown the same route several times. The NTSB is investigating.
