The incident occurred on the evening of October 16 when the “Vertigo” ride – a type of rope swing that takes passengers up about 30 meters – suddenly stopped operating. According to Mr. John Wesley Waugh - Communications Director of the North Carolina Department of Labor, the initial cause was determined to be a “low voltage problem”.
“A low voltage fault triggered an automatic safety system that brought the ride to a controlled stop. All passengers were then safely and promptly evacuated manually. No one was in danger,” Mr Waugh said.
He also stressed that the safety system operated as designed in the event of an emergency.
Vertigo game brings passengers thrilling experiences (Illustration: People).
Many passengers shared that when they were hanging high up, looking down at the entire fairground below, they could not help but panic. “I just thought we were going to fall. I started praying. My son and I said a prayer together,” said Hannah Norris, a participant in the game.
Nearly 100 rides were inspected for safety by the Labor Department inspectors before the fair opened on October 16. However, the incident still occurred afterward. It is unclear how long passengers were stranded before the rides were restarted.
The company that operates Vertigo said it was giving away free tickets to those stranded as a way of apologizing.
Incidents of thrill rides being suspended in mid-air are not uncommon. Many countries have recorded similar situations in recent years.
Tourists were left hanging upside down on a roller coaster due to a power outage in 2023 in China (Source: Newsflare).
In China, in 2023, a roller coaster in Qinhuangdao city (Hebei province) suddenly stopped at the top of the track, leaving 11 tourists hanging upside down for about 20 minutes.
Rescuers quickly rescued the passengers, no one was injured. The video of the incident went viral, many people called on the park to compensate for the impact on the health and psychology of the passengers.
Also in 2023, in Japan, the roller coaster named "The Flying Dinosaur" at Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) suddenly made an emergency stop, suspending 32 passengers at a height of 40m.
Park staff deployed emergency stairs to bring all passengers down safely. The park said that an automatic sensor system activated to stop the train to ensure safety.
Safety experts say that sudden stops on thrill rides are often an automatic safeguard when an abnormality is detected. While these incidents do not result in injuries, they can be psychologically traumatizing and highlight the importance of regular inspections, maintenance, and transparent communication with customers.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/du-quay-mat-dien-hanh-khach-hoang-so-vi-bi-trèo-lo-lung-hang-chuc-met-20251019121626583.htm
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