ERIN, Wis. _ Eyes turned skyward Thursday morning as U.S. Open spectators at Erin Hills watched a blimp catch fire and crash to the ground about a mile from the course.
Witnesses reported seeing a person parachute from the blimp, but a spokesman for AirSign, the aerial advertising firm that operated the blimp, said the pilot stayed with the vehicle until it hit the ground.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a release that the pilot suffered serious burns and other injuries.
Shortly after the blimp crashed into an empty field, a fireball rose from the front end as the fire grew more intense. No one on the ground was hurt.
"The initial investigation reveals the blimp may have experienced mechanical problems prior to the crash," the release from the sheriff's office said.
The blimp was advertising a federal credit union.
