Thrillseekers at the Cedar Point Amusement Park near Cleveland, Ohio were left dangling from the top of the Magnum XL-200 ride after it came to a sudden halt.
The park’s director said it was a standard ride stoppage but operators were unable to restart the ride.
Images from the incident show people walking down a metal staircase next to the rollercoaster track, with only a handrail to hold for support.
According to the amusement park’s website, the Magnum XL-200’s highest point measures 205ft and is even included in the Guinness Book of World Records. It was the first rollercoaster in history to have a peak at 200ft high.
Parkgoers in the vicinity recounted the intense situation as passengers on the ride climbed back down to safety.
Eyewitness Josh Lett told Fox News Digital: “I haven’t seen anything similar to this happen before.”
The news comes shortly after the theme park announced a new “strata” rollercoaster due to open in 2024.
Described by the park as the “world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata roller coaster”, Top Thrill 2 will replace the current Top Thrill Dragster ride.
Carrie Boldman, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point, said the new ride “will be the boldest and most advanced roller coaster Cedar Point has ever introduced. It’s another one-of-a-kind that could only be built at Cedar Point.”
“Our stamp on the industry is in roller coaster innovation, and today, that’s solidified as we redefine the strata coaster into a mega-thrill that our guests will come from far and wide to experience.”
Top Thrill 2 will be even higher than the Magnum XL-200, with a top height of 400ft.
A strata roller coaster is a ride with a peak of at least 400ft, and the new track will be one of only two in the world – the first being the Kingda Ka in New Jersey.
The Top Thrill Dragster has been closed since 2021 after a serious incident in which a woman was struck by an object coming loose from the ride.
