The New York Police Department (NYPD) has issued a strict warning on the opening day of the U.S. Open, stating that drones are not allowed in the vicinity of the tournament. The NYPD has a zero-tolerance policy towards drones and any drone seen hovering over Flushing Meadows will be immediately taken out.
The exact method of taking down the drones was not specified, but NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Rebecca Weiner, mentioned that the department will be using counter-drone capabilities. In the past, the police have effectively jammed the radio signals of drones to bring them down.
This warning comes after an incident in 2015, when a drone flew over Louis Armstrong Stadium during a women’s match and crashed into an empty section of seats. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.
Weiner further emphasized that anyone caught flying a drone during the tournament this year risks possible arrest and having their equipment confiscated.
