American-Malayali community mourns as post-wedding helicopter crash in Atlanta claims groom, injures bride

ATLANTA: A celebratory wedding day turned into tragedy in Dawson County, Georgia, after a helicopter carrying a newlywed couple crashed, killing the groom and the pilot, and leaving the bride hospitalised.
The deceased groom has been identified as Dave Fiji, an Atlanta resident and a pilot with Delta Airlines. The identity of the pilot has not yet been officially released.
According to local reports, the incident occurred shortly after the wedding ceremony of Dave and Jesney on May 29. The couple was travelling in a Robinson R66 helicopter when the aircraft went down near 24 Mount Vernon Drive in Dawsonville.
First responders stated that both Dave and the pilot sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The bride, Jesney, survived the impact with injuries and was rushed to a nearby medical facility, where she is currently undergoing treatment. While an official cause has not been determined, local authorities suggest that poor weather conditions in the area may have been a primary factor in the crash.
Dave was the son of Atlanta-based residents Fiji and Pheba, and his family holds close ties to the local community as members of the New Testament Church. He was also related to the family of the late Pastor Dhestos Cheriyan.
Emergency personnel from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, along with Fire and EMS units, responded immediately to the crash site to conduct rescue and recovery operations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has assumed control of the site and has initiated a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.