A newlywed groom and a pilot died Friday night when their helicopter crashed in a wooded area in Dawsonville, Georgia, moments after departing from the wedding venue.
The bride miraculously survived the incident with minor injuries, according to a June 1 report by Fox5.
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The deceased groom, 25-year-old Dave Fiji, and the unnamed pilot were flying the couple toward their honeymoon destination in Atlanta after a ceremony attended by hundreds of guests.
Low visibility caused by heavy fog delayed the initial flight plan before takeoff.
George Fiji, the father of the groom, provided details about the incident and his son's reservations regarding the weather conditions prior to the flight to WSB-TV.
"We could say it was the perfect wedding," George Fiji said.
The father noted that his son was also a pilot and had actively questioned the safety of flying in the dense fog before the group decided to proceed.
"He said, 'I wouldn't fly, we would not fly in this visibility,'" recalled George Fiji.
Family members stated that the pilot intended to ascend quickly past the fog bank, but the aircraft went down just minutes into the trip.
The bride, Jessni, who works as a nurse, regained consciousness trapped under the debris and discovered her husband beside her.
"She said when she woke up, she was under the rubble," said George Fiji.
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Jessni immediately utilized her medical training to assess her husband's condition amidst the wreckage before rescue teams arrived.
"She herself is a nurse. When she touched him, she called out to him.
He was already cold," George Fiji told WSB-TV.
Emergency personnel reached the isolated crash site approximately five hours after the accident occurred to extricate the surviving bride.
Jessni was treated for cuts and bruises and is expected to make a full physical recovery.
The couple had been together for ten years after originally meeting through their church community.
"He was a precious child, he was a gift from God for us," shared George Fiji.
The father expressed deep grief while remembering his son's character and religious devotion.
"He was a God-fearing child. So handsome, beautiful," he said.
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The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting an investigation into the exact cause of the fatal crash.
