A technical glitch at the North Carolina State Fair left several visitors stranded nearly 100 feet above the ground after the Vertigo ride suddenly stopped mid-operation.
According to John Wesley Waugh, Director of Communications for the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), the ride’s automatic safety system halted operations after detecting a low-voltage fault, a precautionary measure designed to prevent mechanical failure.
“The ride came to a controlled stop, allowing for the safe and timely manual evacuation of all patrons. At no point was anyone at risk,” Waugh told PEOPLE.
Fair staff, assisted by emergency responders, carried out a manual evacuation and safely brought down every rider. Footage shared by WRAL News showed anxious passengers suspended high above the fairground as rescue teams worked to bring them down.
One of the riders, Hannah Norris, said she began praying with her young son during the incident. “All I could think was, ‘We’re going to drop,’” she said. “I just started praying. Me and my son, we just started saying a prayer.”
The ride had cleared inspection earlier
The Vertigo, a tall, swing-style attraction that spins riders in wide circles, had been inspected by NCDOL officials earlier the same day, along with about 100 other rides at the fair. Authorities have not specified how long passengers remained suspended before the evacuation was completed.
Operator apologises, offers free ride
The company operating the Vertigo issued an apology for the incident and announced that those affected would receive a complimentary ride once the attraction reopens following a fresh safety review.
North Carolina law requires all portable rides, such as those at traveling fairs, to undergo inspections at each new location before being opened to the public.
In a separate incident earlier this year, 23 people were injured when a high-speed amusement ride malfunctioned in Taif, Saudi Arabia, after a structural failure caused the platform to collapse, highlighting ongoing safety concerns at large-scale amusement venues.
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