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Six Flags Over Georgia riders were suspended after a malfunction.
Amusement park riders at Six Flags Over Georgia were left suspended nearly 300 feet in the air after a sudden and unexpected stoppage. Video captured the moment as visitors hung haplessly above the ground.
The situation was brief but scary for those involved. It provided an unwanted jolt of adrenaline for thrill seekers.
Amusement park goers have one goal in mind when boarding roller coasters and other venue rides. A rush. In most instances, that’s achieved without issue. In this case, folks got a bit more than they bargained for.
Six Flags ride stops in Georgia.
@abcnews Riders experienced a tense moment at Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park when one of the park’s tallest rides suddenly stopped, leaving them suspended in midair. #abcnews #news
Riders hopped on the SkyScreamer at Six Flags Over Georgia this week in order to be spun 360-degrees high above the park.
The ride is described as follows on the company website.
“Sway Among the Clouds & Scream to the Sky. For anyone who tried to do a 360 on their childhood swing set, this amusement park swing ride is for you.
“Have a seat, but don’t get used to being on the ground, because you’re about to be lifted 260 feet high as the world gets further and further beneath you. If you’re brave enough, go ahead and look down! It’s usually only birds that get this view of the Atlanta skyline.
“You’ll pick up speed as the star-shaped gondola begins to spin, sending you circling the tower at up to 40 mph; that’s nearly highway speeds—talk about airtime.”
The ride lifts visitors high above the skyline, nearly 300 feet in the air. It is one of the tallest rides at the park. Riders are then spun upwards of 40 MPH in a constant circle, allowing them to take in the sights of the entire venue. It is listed as a Thrill Level 4 by Six Flags.
It’s meant to be a fun way to capture all the park has to offer. A recent go-around suddenly stopped midair.
David Early detailed his experience in a video posted by Storyful.“This is my last day at Six Flags,” he said after the ride stopped.
Riders were eventually returned to the ground without issue. Only a scare! Early opted to give it another go in attempts to “reconquer” the SkyScreamer.
“We didn’t get stuck this time!”
Six Flags rides have stopped in the past.
It’s an inevitable situation for any amusement park that operates for an extended period of time. Malfunctions happen. Things don’t always go according to plan.
Six Flags has experienced it at various locations.
In 2024, a similar swing ride in Mexico stopped midflight during a storm leaving riders dangling hundreds of feet in the air. Earlier this month, SkyScreamer riders got stuck for three hours in St. Louis.
Six Flags is far from the only park to run into issues. A roller coaster at Pleasure Pier in Texas stopped last month leading the fire department on a rescue mission for eight patrons. Visitors at Cedar Point in Ohio, meanwhile, were forced to walk a steep 160-foot incline last summer after a roller coaster malfunctioned.
Luckily in this latest instance, no one was harmed. It doesn’t make the video footage any less frightening!