On the inaugural day of the U.S. Open, the New York Police Department (NYPD) issued a stern warning: Flushing Meadows is off-limits to drones. The NYPD emphasized a stringent a no-drone or “zero-tolerance policy” for any drones observed around the tournament venue, assuring swift action against them.

Rebecca Weiner, NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, remained tight-lipped on the specifics but declared that the department “will be deploying our counter-drone capabilities.”

Historically, unwanted drones have been neutralized by jamming their radio signals. A precedent of concern was set in 2015 when a drone disrupted a nighttime women’s match at Louis Armstrong Stadium, eventually crashing into vacant seating. Fortunately, no injuries resulted.

Weiner further cautioned potential drone operators, noting that violators risk arrest and the confiscation of their drones. The message was crystal clear: safety comes first at the U.S. Open, in New York.