LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Monday afternoon, a malfunction at Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California left over 20 riders suspended in midair for several hours.
The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. when the Sol Spin ride experienced technical difficulties and abruptly came to a stop, leaving guests stranded. According to a spokesperson for the park, it took until approximately 4:30 p.m. to evacuate all 22 riders safely.
After the evacuation, two female guests were transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure, the spokesperson reported.
Aerial footage captured during the incident showed riders in various positions while they were suspended, with some appearing to struggle as they were lowered back to the ground. The Sol Spin is designed to lift riders more than six stories high while spinning independently on its long arms, as detailed on the Knott’s Berry Farm website.
While county fire officials were on-site, the rescue operations were managed directly by the park’s staff, ensuring that guests were safely brought back to solid ground.
