Happy Valley Coaster Leaves Riders Suspended In Midair

Every amusement park goer’s worst nightmare came true at Beijing’s Happy Valley earlier this week – though thankfully without any harm done to the riders.

According to Beijing Evening News, on April 10 at 7.35pm the Flying Shark Team rollercoaster malfunctioned, resulting in multiple people being trapped upside down on the ride for about one minute.

The Flying Shark Team is a high-altitude ride, meaning these park-goers were suspended in midair for what one could only assume was the longest minute of their lives.

On the afternoon of Apr 12, Happy Valley released an official statement, explaining that the malfunction was down to an automatic sensor and warning security equipment being inadvertently suspended for 40 seconds. Following an investigation, Happy Valley further clarified that a network of encoder alarms went off by mistake.

Shortly after the incident, a video surfaced online showing the trapped riders and people on the ground shouting words of encouragement. The video ends with the parkgoers safely returning to the ground. In their official statement, Happy Valley apologized for the malfunction and the ensuing poor experience for their customers.

Happy Valley also reiterated that all of the amusement park’s facilities have passed the China Special Equipment Testing and Research Center’s inspections and that the large-scale imported equipment is guaranteed by international and domestic double safety standards. The park adheres to a “safety first” operating principle, and the facilities at Happy Valley strictly abide by the relevant regulations and requirements of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, and are subjected to daily, weekly, monthly, and annual system inspections. Happy Valley promised to further strengthen its safety management and implement various operational safeguard measures to prevent a repeat of this latest incident.

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Images: Beijing Evening News