30 people stranded upside down on AtmosFEAR ride
Viral video shows panic as riders trapped on Oaks Park's AtmosFEAR
SHARIFAH SHAHIRAH
SHAH ALAM – A visit to Oaks Park in Oregon turned into a nightmare when approximately 30 people were left dangling upside down in a sudden and alarming situation on the AtmosFEAR ride.
The incident, which went viral with approximately 30 million views on TikTok, showed riders suspended at the top of a swing, about 100 feet high, in a distressing position.
The widely shared video trigerred concerns and urgent calls for updates as viewers witnessed the stranded riders' screams and panic.
On Friday, June 14, the AtmosFEAR ride malfunctioned, leaving 28 visitors stranded upside down for over 20 minutes.
The park confirmed the incident occurred around 3pm, with the ride unexpectedly halting mid-operation.
"A lot of people were screaming, throwing up, crying, panicking, not knowing what to do," read an article describing the chaos.
Oaks Amusement Park stated on social media that the ride stopped at approximately 2.55pm local time.
Staff immediately initiated emergency procedures and called 911.
Responders arrived around 3.20pm and safely evacuated the riders within minutes.
Portland Fire and Rescue reported that firefighters promptly responded and collaborated with park engineers to manually lower the ride.
Approximately 30 people were rescued, and everyone was safely evacuated.
Medical personnel assessed all riders at the scene, with one rider, who had pre-existing medical conditions, taken to the hospital for further evaluation. No injuries were reported.
“We wish to express our deepest appreciation to the first responders and our staff for taking prompt action, leading to a positive outcome today, and to the rest of the park guests who swiftly followed directions to vacate the park to make way for the emergency responders to attend to the situation,” the park said on platform X.
The park expressed gratitude to emergency responders, confirming that the ride had been trouble-free since opening in 2021.
According to the park’s website, AtmosFEAR is now closed as the manufacturer conducts a thorough investigation into the malfunction's cause, with state inspectors set to review it before any potential reopening.
