22 People Trapped Dangling 6 Stories in the Air for Hours After Ride Malfunctions at Knott’s Berry Farm

Mar. 15, 2025

Nearly two dozen riders were left suspended in the air for hours after a ride malfunctioned at Knott’s Berry Farm.The incident occurred on the Sol Spin ride around 2 p.m. local time on Monday, Nov. 18, a spokesperson for the Buena Park, Calif. theme park confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE.There were 22 guests on the ride when it “experienced technical difficulties, causing the ride to stop mid-cycle,” the statement added.Park guests getting off the ride after it was successfully lowered to the ground.KABCRiders were only successfully evacuated hours later at around 4:30 p.m. local time after park officials “followed the ride manufacturer’s and Knott’s’s emergency procedures” to safely get everyone off the ride.“Out of an abundance of caution, two female guests were transported to the hospital for further evaluation,” the spokesperson added.A clip of the incident shows riders suspended at different angles as officials attempt to bring them down to the ground. Some guests can be seen swinging their arms and legs as they wait.The Sol Spin in 2017.Keith Durflinger/MediaNews Group/San Gabriel Valley Tribune via GettyIn footage of the rescue efforts, a large crane slowly brings officials over to the guests as they assess the ride.When the attraction is safely lowered, riders can be seen slowly standing up and adjusting to being back on the ground. Others appear to be limping as they exit the area.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.According to the theme park’sofficial website, the Sol Spin ride is “one for the brave” as it shoots riders up “over 6 stories high” and rotates them in three different directions.“Riders on the freely rotating, floorless gondolas gain a real sense of being airborne while suspended and flipping above the ground,” the website adds.

Nearly two dozen riders were left suspended in the air for hours after a ride malfunctioned at Knott’s Berry Farm.

The incident occurred on the Sol Spin ride around 2 p.m. local time on Monday, Nov. 18, a spokesperson for the Buena Park, Calif. theme park confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

There were 22 guests on the ride when it “experienced technical difficulties, causing the ride to stop mid-cycle,” the statement added.

Park guests getting off the ride after it was successfully lowered to the ground.KABC

KABC

Riders were only successfully evacuated hours later at around 4:30 p.m. local time after park officials “followed the ride manufacturer’s and Knott’s’s emergency procedures” to safely get everyone off the ride.

“Out of an abundance of caution, two female guests were transported to the hospital for further evaluation,” the spokesperson added.

A clip of the incident shows riders suspended at different angles as officials attempt to bring them down to the ground. Some guests can be seen swinging their arms and legs as they wait.

The Sol Spin in 2017.Keith Durflinger/MediaNews Group/San Gabriel Valley Tribune via Getty

Keith Durflinger/MediaNews Group/San Gabriel Valley Tribune via Getty

In footage of the rescue efforts, a large crane slowly brings officials over to the guests as they assess the ride.

When the attraction is safely lowered, riders can be seen slowly standing up and adjusting to being back on the ground. Others appear to be limping as they exit the area.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to the theme park’sofficial website, the Sol Spin ride is “one for the brave” as it shoots riders up “over 6 stories high” and rotates them in three different directions.

“Riders on the freely rotating, floorless gondolas gain a real sense of being airborne while suspended and flipping above the ground,” the website adds.

source: people.com