At a bustling Celtics watch party in Boston's City Hall Plaza, a festive evening was disrupted when a drone descended erratically, reportedly striking two people, according to Boston.com. A separate report from Boston 25 News indicated that a third individual was also injured in the incident last night.
The event, intended for fans to celebrate the first game of the Celtics season alongside live performances, ran from 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. However, around 8:02 p.m., an unexpected incident occurred when a drone collided with a light pole and fell, striking attendees, police reported. Despite the mishap, the festivities continued, and fans stayed to watch the Celtics defeat the New York Knicks with a score of 132-109.
One of the injured, Yousef Kobeissi, recounted to Boston 25 News the harrowing moment the drone struck him, describing a loud noise followed by a sharp pain in his head; another witness shared the frightening experience of nearly having his fingers severed as the drone plummeted to the ground. While the specifics of the injuries varied, Boston EMS was on site, responding promptly to the attendees in distress.
A TNT events spokesperson acknowledged the incident, stating, "Unfortunately, there was an incident involving a drone and fans attending tonight’s event." The statement continued, "On-site medical and safety personnel immediately attended to the situation." The spokesperson confirmed the event organizer's commitment to further investigate the mishap and expressed well-wishes for those affected, as per a statement reported by Boston 25 News.
The drone operator, reportedly a CNN employee, informed officers that the drone lost control after an inadvertent encounter with nearby foliage, leading to a collision with a light pole and its subsequent fall. The Mavic 3 drone was later retrieved and returned to the Vice President of Tech Operations at CNN, as noted by Boston.com.
