US3 min(s) read
Published 16:16 02 Jun 2026 GMT
A newlywed groom tragically died shortly after he tied the knot with his long-term partner on Friday (May 28).
Dave Fiji, 25, had just said "I do" when he took off in a helicopter near Dawsonville, which tragically plunged into a nearby forest.
He had left moments after the wedding ceremony, into the Georgia sky together with his bride Jessni, to begin their honeymoon.
Hundreds of guests bore witness to the tragic event, which took place after what the family said was a dream wedding.
The happy couple was due to fly to Atlanta before spending the night in a downtown hotel.
After boarding the Robinson R66 helicopter, it took off, but soon crashed into a remote wooded area, killing both Fiji and the pilot.
Miraculously, Jessni survived, even though she was trapped beneath the wreckage for hours.
George, the groom's father, told WSB-TV that his son noted the weather before he took off, recalling: “He said, ‘I wouldn’t fly, we would not fly in this visibility.’”
After the reception finished at around 9:30PM, fog and rain became more prominent.
According to the family, the pilot had planned to climb above the less-than-ideal conditions, as he had received clearance to fly at a higher altitude.
Sadly, the helicopter wouldn't make it and went down in dense woodland.
The cause of the crash is unclear, but the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation that will determine if weather conditions had a part to play.
Beneath the debris after the crash, Jessni regained consciousness and discovered that her husband was dead.
George recalled: “She said when she woke up, she was under the rubble, she woke up and saw him lying on her chest.
“She herself is a nurse. When she touched him, she called out to him. He was already cold.”
After five hours of rescuers searching for and reaching the crash site, they managed to free Jessni, who'd only suffered severe cuts and bruises, but no broken bones.
While the bride is expected to leave the hospital soon, it does not take away from the tragic nature of the events.
The newlyweds met a decade ago through church, and they celebrated their special day in front of 400 guests in the happiest day of their lives.
George recalled: “We could say it was the perfect wedding... we couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Pheba, the mother of the deceased groom, said there was a certain sense of joy during the ceremony, telling the publication: “Both of them told us they could sense the presence of God at the altar, a tangible presence of God,
“There was a special glow and glory over his face that we couldn’t explain. And it was not just us who noticed.”
The late Fiji was described as a devoted Christian who had wanted to fly since he was a child, and even became a first officer for Delta Air Lines.
Pheba said: “He was kind, he was gentle, he was selfless. Those were her words. We have the confidence that God perfected the work that he started in his life.”
His father added: “He was a precious child, he was a gift from God for us,
“He was [a] God-fearing child. So handsome, beautiful.”
