Dozens of thrill-seekers were left dangling high above the ground after a ride at Knott's Berry Farm in California malfunctioned on Saturday afternoon. The Sol Spin attraction at the Buena Park theme park stopped while rotating 360 degrees, leaving approximately 20 riders stranded upside down.
Video footage from the Citizen App showed riders screaming, swinging their legs and leaning sideways on one of the ride's six arms. The ride, which spins guests over six stories high, rotates each arm independently in three directions simultaneously, according to the park's website.
Knott's Berry Farm said in a statement: "The safety of our guests is a top priority. Today the ride did not complete a full cycle as a safety precaution. The ride was stopped for approximately five minutes." The ride reopened after passing "a full safety inspection", the statement added.
Social media users reacted with alarm, with one person calling the incident a "nightmare" and another writing "Again" in reference to a similar occurrence last November. On that occasion, 22 riders were suspended for two hours due to "technical difficulties", and two women were taken to hospital as a precaution. California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health subsequently inspected the ride.
