Groom killed in helicopter crash on wedding night as wife hospitalised

A wedding has ended in devastating tragedy after the groom died in a helicopter crash just hours after getting married.

Newlyweds Dave Fiji, 25, and Jesni Fiji departed their big day in a Robinson R66 helicopter when it crashed in a wooded area near Dawsonville in Georgia, on Friday night (29 May).

Both Dave and the pilot manning the aircraft died in the accident, while Jesni survived with ‘only minor cuts and bruises,’ as reported by The New York Post.

Atlanta News First confirmed that she is currently recovering at a metro Atlanta hospital.

The publication also identified the late pilot as Nikhil Nargundkar, citing the Dawson County coroner.

After a ‘perfect wedding,’ at The Revere, a wedding venue near Dawsonville, the married couple were due to set off on their honeymoon to Atlanta at around 9:30pm, travelling via helicopter, which was reportedly part of their package.

However, tragedy struck when it went down in a wooded area, not long after taking off.

Dave Figi tragically died in the accident while his wife Jesni survived with minor injuries (Fox5)

Emergency crews from the Dawson County Sheriff's Office and local fire agency responded to reports of a downed aircraft at around 10:35 pm local time, as per Fox 5.

As reported by PEOPLE Magazine, the groom’s father, George, paid tribute to his son and told WSB-TV in an interview on 31 May: “He was a precious child, he was a gift from God for us.”

He said, “We could say it was the perfect wedding. We couldn't ask for anything more."

While the groom’s mother, Pheba, added: “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.”

George added that the weather had turned misty and foggy and claimed his son, who was a pilot for Delta, was concerned about the visibility.

The grieving father recalled: “He said I wouldn't fly, we would not fly in this visibility."

The groom's parents have since paid tribute to their son, describing him as a 'gift from God' (WSB-TV/YouTube)

George told WSB-TV that Jesni was trapped under the wreckage for five hours after the crash before she was rescued by authorities.

He 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.

Speaking of his daughter-in-law, he said that ‘She's devastated, but she's recovering’ and is expected to be released from the hospital in the coming days.

Pheba added, “She always says there could never be a man who could preserve himself like David did.

“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.”

Local news outlets report that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into what caused the tragedy.