%20New%20Logo_4.jpg){kind=small}
Lawsuit says groom's wedding-night helicopter crash was 'utterly preventable'
Now, the bride who survived the crash is suing the helicopter company and the wedding venue, alleging the flight never should have taken off because of dangerous weather conditions.
Jesni Sam filed a wrongful-death and negligence lawsuit on behalf of herself and the estate of her husband, Dave Fiji, arguing that his death was “utterly preventable.” The lawsuit names Prestige Helicopters Inc. and The Revere, the Dawsonville venue where the couple was married.
The Couple Had Just Said “I Do”
Fiji, 25, and Sam were married May 29 at The Revere in Dawsonville, Georgia.
As part of their wedding celebration, the newlyweds boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter for a planned flight to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta. The helicopter departed the venue around 9:45 p.m.
About five minutes later, the aircraft crashed into trees in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. Fiji and the pilot, Nikhil Nargundkar, were killed. Sam survived with serious injuries.
Bride Was Trapped for Hours
The lawsuit describes a devastating aftermath.
Sam was trapped inside the wreckage with her husband's body lying on top of her. According to the lawsuit and emergency records, she remained trapped for nearly six hours before rescuers were able to reach her.
Deputies searching the wooded area eventually heard a woman calling for help. Shortly before 3 a.m., rescuers cut through her seat belt and pulled Sam from the wreckage.
Her lawsuit says she suffered multiple physical injuries, including a leg wound and permanent scarring. She also alleges that she has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, emotional anguish and a fear of flying since the crash.
Lawsuit Blames Dangerous Weather
A central allegation in Sam's lawsuit is that the helicopter should not have taken off.
The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report described weather conditions that included rain, fog, low cloud ceilings and embedded thunderstorms in the area around the time of the crash. The NTSB has not yet determined the final cause of the accident.
Sam alleges the pilot failed to adequately monitor the deteriorating conditions and did not abort the flight despite low visibility and rain.
The lawsuit also accuses The Revere and its related companies of failing to have procedures allowing the venue to stop or postpone the helicopter send-off when weather conditions became unsafe.
“Utterly Preventable”
The lawsuit describes the crash as the result of a series of alleged negligent decisions.
Sam's attorneys argue that those responsible for arranging and operating the helicopter ride failed to exercise reasonable care when deciding whether the flight should proceed.
Her attorney, Andrew Robb, said the lawsuit is seeking answers and accountability after Sam went from celebrating her wedding to experiencing what he described as an almost unimaginable tragedy within minutes.
A Groom Who Was Also a Pilot
Fiji's family has said he was familiar with aviation himself.
Fiji worked as a first officer for Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, beginning in 2025. He had previously worked as a flight instructor after graduating from Middle Georgia State University.
His family previously said Fiji had concerns about the weather before the flight, although those accounts are separate from the NTSB's ongoing investigation.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The lawsuit does not establish that the defendants were legally responsible for the crash. Those allegations will have to be addressed in court.
The NTSB's investigation also remains active, and its preliminary report does not constitute a final determination of what caused the helicopter to go down.
For Sam, however, the legal action is about more than determining responsibility.
She is seeking compensation for her injuries and the loss of her husband while asking for answers about how a celebration that began with their wedding could end so tragically.
Source: WSB-TV
Comments