ERIN HILLS, WI (WISN/CNN) - The head of a company whose blimp caught fire and crashed near the U.S. Open is considering the possibility it was shot down.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the blimp crash on June 15 was caused by the airship's outer fabric catching fire after collapsing around the blimp's burners. The incident happened about a mile from where thousands of people were gathered for the golf championship.
Airsign CEO Patrick Walsh said the incident should not have happened.
"Then there was multiple events that pieced together definitely raised the question," he said. "We don't necessarily believe in coincidences here..."
He says a 911 call could be the smoking gun.
The call said:
"They just landed a great big blimp off the property next to me and it's scaring the living (expletive) out of my cattle."
"Can I shoot that son of a (expletive) down?"
Dispatcher:
"No, we'll send a squad right over."
Caller: "Thank you."
The Washington County Sheriff's Office interviewed the caller, who said he had no intention of shooting the airship and made the comment because he was frustrated.
Walsh says that call, combined with how the blimp crashed, leaves him wanting answers.
But after the blimp burned up he worries the evidence may be gone.
The pilot told authorities that he heard a panel tear as he was trying to land.
He said he tried to turn off the burners, but part of the fabric collapsed and caught fire.
The pilot was treated for serious injuries.
No one on the ground was hurt.
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