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New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Dozens stranded for an hour during scary malfunction on Six Flags amusement park ride
This is a red flag for a theme park. Thrill seekers at Six Flags America were in for quite the ride over the weekend: Thirty-two people got stuck on the SteamWhirler ride at the Bowie, Maryland park for more than an hour due to a mechanical malfunction on Saturday. Emergency crews from Prince George's County Fire and EMS (PGFD) were dispatched to the amusement park and arrived at 3:25 p.m. to assist in the rescue operation. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement One passenger called 911 after the ride unexpectedly stopped midway, stranding parkgoers on the tracks. Emergency crews from Prince George's County Fire and EMS (PGFD) were dispatched to the amusement park and arrived at 3:25 p.m. to assist in the rescue operation. All riders were safely evacuated, evaluated at the scene, and cleared by EMS personnel. Advertisement The SteamWhirler, described by the park as a 'moderate thrill' attraction, features four rotating arms, each carrying up to eight passengers, and has been a popular draw since its 2024 debut. On Saturday, however, the ride wasn't a fan favorite when it abruptly halted mid-cycle. All riders were safely evacuated, evaluated at the scene, and cleared by EMS personnel. X / @PGFDNews Six Flags America confirmed in a statement to People that the SteamWhirler 'did not complete its typical cycle and paused before returning to the ground.' The park emphasized that all guests were safely unloaded without injury, and that safety remains 'a cornerstone' of its operations. Advertisement Though PGFD assisted with evaluations during the hot August afternoon, Six Flags clarified that park staff handled the actual unloading. 'Our team is trained for these types of situations,' a spokesperson said. However, while on-site, EMS personnel assisted a separate guest who experienced a medical emergency unrelated to the ride incident. That individual was transported to a hospital with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. The ride will remain closed pending a full inspection. Advertisement The incident comes as Six Flags America nears the end of its nearly 50-year run. The park is scheduled to close permanently on November 2, after 51 years of operation — 26 of those under the Six Flags name — due to financial reasons. 'D-mn. They can't even go out with a bang with a lil good publicity shut that joint down tonight,' someone wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'You might f-ck around and be on final destination lol,' another commented. 'Yikes, getting stuck on a ride for an hour sounds like a nightmare,' someone else chimed in. Saturday's incident adds to a growing list of operational issues reported across amusement parks nationwide, reigniting conversations about ride safety as the summer season continues. rJust this summer, riders were stuck upside down for 10 minutes on 'North America's tallest, longest and fastest tilt coaster' on opening day, Cedar Point's 'Siren's Curse' rollercoaster broke down for the 4th time since opening, forcing riders to scale down 160-foot tall curve, and an amusement park ride snapped in half, injuring more than 20 — just to name a few incidents.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Dozens of parkgoers stranded on Six Flags ride for an hour after malfunction
Terrified theme park visitors were left stranded in the air for more than an hour after a ride malfunctioned at the Six Flags America in Maryland. An enjoyable day at the Bowie amusement park suddenly turned sour for 32 guests when the SteamWhirler stalled on Saturday afternoon. The broken-down ride has four arms that can each carry eight people as they spin. It was introduced in 2024 and Six Flags America said it has a 'moderate' thrill level. While the park told Fox News its staff is able to handle situations like this without outside assistance, one of the panicked passengers dialed 911 anyway. Units from the Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (PGFD) arrived at the scene at 3:25pm. All the riders were removed from the failed attraction and one person was taken to the hospital, according to a statement from the PGFD. The department categorized the hospitalized person's injuries as 'serious but not life threatening,' but they had nothing to do with the ride stopping. 'Yesterday afternoon, one of our rides did not complete its typical cycle and paused before returning to the ground,' a Six Flags spokesperson told Fox News. 'No guests were injured. The ride will remain closed for a thorough review to determine what caused it to stop.' The representative noted that sometimes rides and rollercoasters stop because they have sensors that shut them down if they pick up on something wrong - even if it is something minor. Attractions cannot run again until the issue is evaluated and cleared by employees, they explained. 'Sometimes, the ride requires a more lengthy review by trained experts. In those cases, we unload riders - as we did yesterday,' the spokesperson told the outlet. This troubling incident comes less than three months before the Bowie Six Flags is set to close its gates for good. The iconic theme park, which opened in 1974 as The Wildlife Preserve and underwent multiple name changes until 1999, when it was acquired by Premier Parks and became Six Flags America. The Bowie Six Flags' accompanying water park, Hurricane Harbor, will also be shuttering. 'As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that are not a strategic fit with the company's long-term growth plan,' Six Flags President and CEO Richard Zimmerman said in a statement. 'After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment.' The park is best known as the home of Wild One, a 108-year-old wooden roller coaster that is the third-oldest in the world. The closure will leave 70 full-time employees without jobs, though the company said eligible workers will receive severance and other benefits.
