A day meant to celebrate a major milestone at a beloved Texas amusement park turned into a frightening ordeal when a roller coaster suddenly stalled with 18 people trapped on board.
The Texas Tornado came to an abrupt stop at Wonderland Amusement Park in Amarillo on Saturday, Aug. 1, leaving riders stranded high above the ground as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
The alarming malfunction unfolded while the park was celebrating its 75th anniversary.
The Amarillo Fire Department responded with three fire engines and a ladder truck before using an aerial ladder to carefully rescue each passenger from the stalled coaster.
All 18 riders were safely removed, and no injuries were officially reported by the amusement park.
However, Amarillo Medical Services evaluated one person at the scene, according to ABC 7. It was not immediately clear whether that individual was taken to a hospital.
Photos and video from the scene showed emergency crews working high above the park as riders waited to be brought back to safety.
Wonderland Amusement Park has since shut down the Texas Tornado while officials investigate what caused the ride to malfunction.
Any necessary repairs will be completed before the roller coaster is allowed to reopen, the park said.
“The safety of our guests and team members is always our highest priority,” Wonderland officials said in a statement.
The terrifying incident comes as amusement park ride malfunctions continue to make headlines across the country, including recent cases in which passengers were forced to climb down towering roller coasters after becoming stranded.
Wonderland Amusement Park and the Amarillo Fire Department were contacted for additional comment.