Sixteen people, fifteen of them children, were left stranded roughly 25 feet in the air for over three hours after a ride malfunctioned at Adventureland amusement park in East Farmingdale, New York, on June 19.
The Wave Twister ride stopped suddenly at around 7:25 pm. mid-cycle, leaving the group suspended in the air.
The passengers were mostly aged between eight and 12, with one five-year-old accompanied by their 40-year-old parent, no injuries were reported.
Firefighters had everyone safely off the ride in just over 3 hours
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the East Farmingdale Fire Department and the Suffolk County Police Emergency Services Unit.
According to CBS News, firefighters used ladders, heavy rescue equipment and harnesses to bring passengers down one at a time. The last rider reached the ground at 10:39 p.m., making the total rescue operation just over three hours.
The Wave Twister is one of Adventureland’s newest attractions, having opened in spring 2026 as part of the park’s Legacy Corner redevelopment.
The custom-built ride, manufactured by Ride Engineers of Switzerland, features two rotating ten-passenger gondolas traveling along a 280-foot track designed to simulate ocean waves.
Park spokesperson Mark Smith confirmed the ride has been suspended indefinitely while consultants investigate the cause of the mechanical failure.
It is not the first time a theme park ride has come to an unexpected stop this year. Back in May, a power outage at Six Flags in Texas forced guests to walk down the side of a roller coaster track after the entire park lost power mid-ride.
