Swedish Amusement Park Hit with Major Fine Over Deadly Roller Coaster Incident
A prominent Swedish amusement park has been ordered to pay a substantial financial penalty following a tragic roller coaster accident that resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. The Stockholm District Court imposed a fine of nearly $588,000 on Gröna Lund on Wednesday 28 January 2026, in connection with the catastrophic derailment that occurred in 2023.
Details of the Fatal Derailment
The devastating incident took place on 25 June 2023 aboard the Jetliner roller coaster at the Gröna Lund theme park. Witness accounts described a scene of chaos as the front section of the train appeared to jump off the tracks before coming to an abrupt halt, with one carriage tilting dangerously toward the ground. Tragically, three passengers were ejected from the coaster during the violent derailment.
The court investigation revealed that a critical safety component—the support arm in the first car—had fractured. This failure caused the coaster's undercarriage to collide with the track joints, resulting in sudden and severe braking forces that propelled passengers from their seats. Compounding the tragedy, several safety restraints also failed during the incident.
Court Findings and Additional Penalties
The Stockholm District Court determined that Gröna Lund had acted negligently in its safety procedures. Specifically, the park was found to have provided insufficient documentation when ordering newly manufactured support arms. Furthermore, the court ruled that the theme park failed to ensure that welding work was carried out by a properly qualified professional.
In addition to the fine imposed on Gröna Lund, the manufacturing company Göteborgs Mekaniska was fined nearly $147,000 for improper welding practices and undertaking work for which it lacked appropriate qualifications. The company has since declared bankruptcy. A second manufacturing firm involved in the case was acquitted of all charges.
Gröna Lund has also been ordered to pay unspecified damages to the victims and their families. Neither the amusement park nor Göteborgs Mekaniska responded immediately to requests for comment following the court's ruling.
Historical Context and Park Background
The Jetliner roller coaster, which measures 800 meters (2,600 feet) in length, first opened to the public in 1988 and underwent significant renovations in 2000. According to park specifications, the attraction reaches a maximum height of 30 meters (98 feet) and achieves top speeds of 90 kilometers per hour (56 miles per hour).
Gröna Lund amusement park itself occupies a historic position in Swedish entertainment culture. Established in 1883 on an island near Stockholm's city center, it has grown to become one of the nation's most beloved and frequently visited theme parks, making this safety failure particularly significant within the Swedish tourism and entertainment sectors.
