A groom was tragically killed in a helicopter crash last month in Georgia just minutes after leaving what loved ones described as his "perfect wedding."
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A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) states that no flight plan had been filed before takeoff.
The NTSB also said the Robinson R66 helicopter "was substantially damaged" when it crashed near Dawsonville shortly before 10 p.m. local time on May 29.
NTSB Releases Preliminary Findings Into Wedding Helicopter Crash
The helicopter had been in the air for only five minutes after departing the wedding reception.
It then plunged into a wooded area, killing groom Dave Fiji, 25, and the pilot.
Remarkably, Dave's new wife, Jessni Fiji, survived the crash with cuts and bruises.
The couple had planned to leave their reception around 9:30 p.m. and fly to Atlanta to begin their honeymoon.
However, foggy weather reportedly delayed their departure after Dave, who was also a pilot, raised concerns about the visibility.
Despite those concerns, the helicopter eventually took off with the newlyweds onboard.
Bride Waited Hours for Rescue After Crash
The pilot attempted to climb to a higher altitude to avoid the fog but encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff, leading to the fatal crash.
Dave's family said Jessni remained trapped in the heavily wooded crash site for hours, drifting in and out of consciousness while waiting to be rescued.
Jim George, Dave's paternal uncle, said it took rescue crews five and a half hours to reach the wreckage because of the difficult terrain.
He said he was told emergency responders "had to use special equipment" to access the site.
"She said when she woke up, she was under the rubble," he told WSB-TV. "She woke up and saw him lying on her chest."
"When she touched him, she called out to him. He was already cold."
Dave's funeral was held on June 6, where Jessni delivered an emotional eulogy recalling how the couple first became friends after meeting at church in April 2016.
"After that, we just didn't stop talking. The basis of our friendship was good conversation," she said. "We never ran out of subjects to talk about."
George said he never wants the crash "to erase the joy he felt that day."
