A blimp has crashed into the ground at Erin Hills, site of the 2017 U.S. Open on Thursday.
A blimp with a single pilot used to promote Penfed Credit Union was flying around the property and went down after losing its air pressure, according to eyewitness video. The blimp appears to have caught fire, and the pilot then parachuted away from the crashing blimp. After crashing, there were multiple explosions around the remains of the blimp.
Now we have an aerial shot of the blimp crash scene at Erin Hills https://t.co/x2pBBKapfn pic.twitter.com/Wikcxc54dt
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) June 15, 2017
Just saw a blimp crash here at the open. Pilot looked to have parachuted out #USOpen
— Paul Daugherty (@EnquirerDoc) June 15, 2017
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
Pretty sure I just watched the blimp crash at the #USOPEN! Hope everybody is ok! pic.twitter.com/OSOCSBF46p
— Adam Johnson (@Coach_Guy_AJ) June 15, 2017
#USOpen blimp going down on fire. pic.twitter.com/cRAX4apE7R
— Drez (@AaronDrez) June 15, 2017
@usopengolf #USOpengolf #blimp just crashed at the US Open. Pilot looked like he bailed out pic.twitter.com/X6MqxB6yWz
— golfjunkie (@mikecastleberry) June 15, 2017
16-year-old Hunter Guetkze saw the blimp go down with his dad, describes what happened. pic.twitter.com/P1l32VhVrA
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 15, 2017
Emergency medical personnel appeared quickly on site with ambulances and a helicopter to treat the pilot for his injuries. A report from a message board group which monitor EMS radio channels in Wisconsin indicates one pilot has suffered some burns from the incident.
Paramedics moving apparent victim of blimp crash at US Open pic.twitter.com/qrdrsVXaAT
— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) June 15, 2017
The blimp did not land on any facet of the golf course or the Erin Hills property, crashing well outside the gates of the course.
The blimp nor the pilot are affiliated with Fox Sports or its coverage of the championship.
