Kerala-origin man killed in Atlanta helicopter crash

Kochi/Atlanta: Dave Fiji (26), an Indian-origin man whose family traces its roots to Muvattupuzha, was among the two people killed in a helicopter crash in Georgia, USA, shortly after his wedding on Friday. Dave and pilot Nikhil Nargundkar were killed in the crash, while his bride, Jesni (25), also of Malayali origin, survived and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Atlanta. US National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the incident.

Dave 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, Veettoor, near Muvattupuzha. Dave was also a pilot for commercial airline Delta, said Atlanta News First.

After their wedding, the couple boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter bound for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. According to reports, 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.

“My son was so happy,” said Dave’s father, George Fiji. “It took them a while to locate the helicopter,” he said, adding 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, who suffered cuts and bruises but no broken bones, is recovering but is devastated.

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.