A drone crashed Thursday night during a match at the U.S. Open featuring Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.
Early Friday morning, police arrested a New York City teacher for the incident, which didn’t injure any spectators at the major tennis tournament held in Queens, N.Y.
This isn’t the first time a drone has crashed during a match featuring the Italian. In fact, it’s the second time in just two years.
CNN reported that a drone was found flying by outside courts during a semifinal between Serena Williams and Pennetta last year. Police made an arrest in connection with that incident as well.
Thursday’s crash came just after New York Senator Chuck Schumer made comments about drone regulations in the city, calling for the FAA and the Commerce Department to take action, according to CNN: “New York City has become the wild, wild west for commercial and hobby drones,” Schumer said.
“A little bit scary, I have to say,” Pennetta said after she won the match on Thursday night to advance to the 2015 tournament’s third round.
“With everything going on in the world … I thought, ‘OK, it’s over.’ That’s how things happen,” she added. “If there had been spectators, it would have hit them and done a lot of damage.”
Given the U.S. Open’s close proximity to LaGuardia Airport, the use of drones is prohibited, as the airspace is used for flights taking off and landing at the airport. And while the NFL and the FAA have placed a ban on drones ahead of the Super Bowl, Fox Sports employed drones at the U.S. Open golf tournament earlier this summer.
The incident comes as Serena Williams bids for the coveted Grand Slam, meaning winning all four major tennis tournaments in a calendar year.
