A 26-year-old Indian-origin man, Dave Fiji, whose family traces its roots to Muvattupuzha in Kerala, was among two people killed in a helicopter crash in Georgia, USA, shortly after his wedding on Friday. The pilot, Nikhil Nargundkar, also died in the crash. Dave's bride, Jesni (25), also of Malayali origin, survived and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Atlanta. The US National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the incident.
Background of the victims
Dave Fiji was the son of Fiji George and Feba Fiji, who migrated to the US several years ago and currently reside in Atlanta. He was also the grandson of George K T, a former teacher at Ebenezer Higher Secondary School in Veettoor, near Muvattupuzha. Dave worked as a pilot for the commercial airline Delta, according to Atlanta News First.
The fateful flight
After their wedding, the couple boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter bound for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. Reports indicate that the aircraft crashed in a wooded area shortly after take-off amid bad weather. The flight was intended as a special sendoff before the newlyweds spent the night at a downtown Atlanta hotel.
Dave's father, George Fiji, said, "My son was so happy. It took them a while to locate the helicopter." He added that Jesni was trapped in the wreckage for nearly six hours before rescuers found her. "She said when she woke up, she saw my son resting on her bosom. She saw blood on him and by then his body was completely cold. She’s a nurse, so she knew he was gone," he said. Jesni suffered cuts and bruises but no broken bones. She is recovering but is devastated.
Concerns about weather
Dave had expressed concern over the flight since the weather and visibility in the area had worsened due to rain. "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," said George. According to George, Jesni later told him the pilot said they would fly at a higher altitude. "God granted us a perfect wedding and within a few hours, everything changed into tragedy. The only place we can find answers and peace is in God," he said.
