A drone at the US Open has landed a high school science teacher in some hot water. Daniel Verley was arrested in connection with a drone crash at the event and faces charges of reckless endangerment and operating a drone in a New York City park outside of prescribed area, according to FOX News.
Verley, 26, is a teacher with the Academy of Innovative Technology in Brooklyn. He was released and is set to appear in court on Sept. 16.
U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Chris Widmaier said that no one was injured, as the drone flew across the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium and then crashed into some empty seats during the second-round match between Flavia Pennetta of Italy and Monica Niculescu of Romania.
Pennetta's first thought was fear that the drone might have been a bomb, according to Townhall. "A little bit scary, I have to say," she said. "With everything going on in the world ... I thought, 'OK, it's over.' That's how things happen."
Pennetta added that her coach and physical therapist, who were seated in the opposite end of the stadium, admitted to also being frightened. "All of the (security measures) and it comes from above," she said.
The incident, coupled with this year's quadcopter crash onto the White House grounds, has brought up questioning about the need for drone regulation, according to The Christian Science Monitor. With no licenses required for recreational drones, the Federal Aviation Administration has regulated how high they can fly and have instituted no-fly zones.
FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker has told Congress that the agency is working to finalize rules on commercial drones, with resolutions and rulings expected to be ready next year.
