Adventureland Ride Rescue
16 Riders, Including Children, Safely Rescued After Being Stranded on Adventureland Wave Twister
Key Points
Adventureland said the Wave Twister was a custom-built ride that “opened in March” and uses a boomerang-style layout with two spinning gondolas—each designed to carry 10 passengers.
Reports on the ride’s manufacturer and marketing details differ: India Today wrote the Wave Twister was “manufactured by Ride Engineers of Switzerland,” while ABC7 said it is manufactured by “Res Rides” and is “branded the first of its kind in the world,” with an L-shaped figure-eight track.
During the rescue, ABC7 reported firefighters removed riders “one child at a time,” using “ladders and harnesses” to guide children down, and said ambulances were on standby so paramedics could check the kids after they were rescued.
A passenger who was trapped told CBS News he helped calm children by reassuring them and saying, “I was telling them it was okay, they can hold my hand and stuff ...”
Sixteen people — including a 5-year-old and 14 children between ages 8 and 12 — were stuck about 25 feet in the air for more than three hours after a ride called the Wave Twister broke down at Adventureland amusement park in East Farmingdale, Long Island. The ride stalled around 7:30 p.m. on June 18, 2024, and firefighters finally brought the last passenger down at 10:39 p.m., according to Suffolk County Police. No injuries were reported.
Multiple fire departments and Suffolk County police responded, using ladders and harnesses to bring riders down one at a time. The park said the Wave Twister will stay closed while it works with ride consultants to find out what caused the malfunction, according to ABC7.
Firefighters Spent Three Hours Extracting One Child at a Time
When the ride stalled, Adventureland staff tried manual overrides first. Those failed. By around 8:15 p.m., fire trucks with ladder equipment were on scene, according to CBS News. Because of the ride's spinning gondola design, rescuers had to secure and lower each passenger individually — a slow and technically difficult process.
ABC7 reported that firefighters used "ladders and harnesses" and removed riders "one child at a time," with ambulances standing by so paramedics could check every child after they landed. The one adult on the ride told CBS News he tried to keep the children calm: "I was telling them it was okay, they can hold my hand and stuff." Some parents used Apple Watches to talk to their kids during the wait, according to People.
Wave Twister Was Brand-New and 'First of Its Kind in the World'
The Wave Twister opened in March 2024 as part of a $5 million park-wide upgrade. It is a custom-built ride with an L-shaped, figure-eight track and two gondolas that spin independently. Each gondola holds 10 passengers, for a total capacity of 20. ABC7 described it as "the first of its kind in the world."
The ride's manufacturer is listed as Ride Engineers Switzerland — also called RES or Res Rides — though India Today and ABC7 used slightly different names for the company. Reports also noted the ride had a brief operational hiccup earlier the same day before being cleared to run again, according to ABC7.
Experts Say the Stop Was a Safety Feature — But Recovery Was the Problem
Safety consultants told ABC7 the ride's computer likely triggered magnetic brakes automatically when sensors detected something wrong — a standard fail-safe. The brakes are designed to prevent a derailment. The problem, experts said, was not that the ride stopped. It was that getting passengers back down took nearly three hours.
Critics focused on the fact that a "first-of-its-kind" ride had no faster way to get passengers down from 25 feet when the system stalled. The New York State Department of Labor, which regulates amusement rides in the state, launched a formal investigation. The Wave Twister cannot reopen until it passes re-certification, according to NBC New York.
Adventureland's Safety History Draws Fresh Scrutiny
The park, open since 1962, has faced serious incidents before. In 2005, a 45-year-old woman died after being thrown from a ride called the Top Scan. In 2021, a 21-year-old seasonal worker was killed after being struck by a roller coaster, according to Newsday. Neither incident was connected to the Wave Twister, but local coverage quickly linked them.
Adventureland said in a statement that guest safety is its "top priority" and that it is working with the manufacturer and state inspectors to find the cause, according to People. The park confirmed the Wave Twister had passed its initial state inspections in March before it opened to the public.
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