Drone Crashes At Louis Armstrong Stadium During US Open Match
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The NYPD is investigating after a drone crashed into the stands at Louis Armstrong Stadium during a US Open match Thursday night.
The United States Tennis Association said the crash happened just before 8:30 p.m.
The drone was seen flying from the east right into the southwest corner of the stadium during the Flavia Pennetta vs. Monica Niculescu match, according to the USTA.
Police said no one was injured during the incident.
Pennetta, of Italy, won 6-1, 6-4 over Monica Niculescu of Romania.
Pennetta said she heard the drone fly by and was not sure what it was. Her initial reaction, she said afterward, was that it might have been a bomb.
"A little bit scary, I have to say,'' Pennetta said. "With everything going on in the world --- I thought, 'OK, it's over.' That's how things happen."
She said neither the chair umpire nor tournament officials told her that it was, indeed, a drone.
The drone broke into pieces upon impact and the match was only briefly interrupted between points while police and fire department personnel went to look at it.
"The chair umpire just wanted to wait for an OK from the police to be able to continue,'' said Pennetta. "Even if truthfully, I don't think even they knew what it was.''
Pennetta said her coach and physical therapist were sitting in the opposite end of the stadium from where the drone crashed and they told her later they were afraid, too.
"All of these (security measures), and then it comes in from above,'' Pennetta said. "If there had been spectators, it would have hit them and done a lot of damage."
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