ERIN, Wis. -- Golfers decimated the course at Erin Hills in Round 1 of the U.S. Open on Thursday, but the real action took place in the skies. A went down at Erin Hills early on Thursday, and according to folks at the scene, the pilot just barely escaped before the crashed blimp exploded. The blimp was not affiliated with the U.S Open or the TV broadcast team for Fox.
I was on the course when this happened, and at one point, I noticed the blimp was flying incredibly low and looked to be taking on a weird shape (it seemed to have been deflating).
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
Whoa the blimp did blow up upon impact pic.twitter.com/DcVt0JoU9K
— Eric Buenning (@ericbuenning) June 15, 2017
USGA reported that the pilot was hurt and first responders are on the scene. He suffered serious burns but was alert and conscious when taken away.
Paramedics tending to victim of blimp crash at U.S. Own pic.twitter.com/5j2QtoS6k2
— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) June 15, 2017
