Watch: Blimp at U.S. Open crashes; pilot injured, USGA says
A blimp at the U.S. Open apparently has crashed and burned near Erin Hills, where one spectator posted video of the incident to Twitter.
Just got to the #USOpen and the blimp caught fire and crashed. People parachuted out. pic.twitter.com/1lDi3VkXCu
— madison seigworth (@msiggyy) June 15, 2017
The USGA issued a statement saying that the blimp — "unafilliated" with the Open or Fox Sports, which is televising the event in the U.S. — had crashed, the pilot was injured and first-reponders were on the scene.
A blimp unaffiliated with the #USOpen or @FOXSports has crashed near Erin Hills. Pilot was injured and first responders are on the scene.
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed to CBS 58 in Milwaukee that one person was injured, and a writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer said he witnessed the crash and the "pilot looked to have parachuted out."
Just saw a blimp crash here at the open. Pilot looked to have parachuted out #USOpen
— Paul Daugherty (@EnquirerDoc) June 15, 2017
The blimp was operated by advertising firm AirSign, the company confirmed to CBS 58. A spokesman from the company's headquarters in Florida told USA Today by telephone that the unidentified pilot — transported from the scene in a Flight for Life helicopter — is OK but suffered burns in the incident.
PenFed Credit Union was the blimp's sponsor for the tournament, which began Thursday morning.
If you are lucky enough to be at the US Open today share your blimp sighting pics! @penfed #PenFedBlimp #USOpen #USOpen2017 #ErinHills #Golf pic.twitter.com/trFyddODWD
— AirSign (@AirSign) June 15, 2017