15 left dangling at 45 degrees after Kaohsiung coaster stops midair

Kaohsiung, Sept. 5 (CNA) An emergency stop on a U-shaped rollercoaster left 15 riders suspended for three minutes at a 45-degree angle at the E-DA Theme Park in Kaohsiung around noon Thursday.

A video posted on Threads on Thursday showed the ride stuck at a 45-degree angle, and the park said visitors were later rescued by the staff, while the ride reopened about an hour later after an inspection deemed it safe.

The inspection revealed that the ride did not stop due to a malfunction, but responded to an "abnormal indication" as an automatic safety measure, the park said.

It explained that the indication may be triggered by passengers' belongings falling into the ride's perimeter, or environmental factors such as dust interfering with the ride's sensors, and the ride is designed to stop immediately upon receiving such warnings.

Once an automated emergency stop occurs, the park will close the ride until a thorough inspection deems it safe to reopen, the park said.

It also said no structural or mechanical issues were found on the ride, and workers will continue to ensure the ride's safety through routine inspections and maintenance.

The "Big Air" U-shaped coaster takes riders 60 meters above the ground, reaching a 90-degree angle at its highest point, according to the park's website.