Vertigo Ride Malfunction Leaves Fairgoers Suspended 100 Feet in the Air at North Carolina State Fair

A frightening incident occurred at the North Carolina State Fair when the Vertigo ride suddenly halted due to a technical malfunction, leaving several riders suspended approximately 100 feet above ground. According to People magazine, a low-voltage issue caused the ride to stop mid-operation, stranding terrified fairgoers high in the air.

Wesley Waugh, Communications Director for the North Carolina Department of Labor, explained that the ride's safety system functioned properly by automatically stopping when it detected the voltage problem. This built-in safety feature is designed to protect passengers in such circumstances. Fair staff and emergency response teams quickly mobilized to safely evacuate all riders from their elevated position.

"The ride came to a controlled stop, enabling a safe and efficient manual evacuation of all patrons. At no point were any passengers in danger," Waugh emphasized. He further clarified that the safety precaution "performed exactly as intended."

Footage captured during the incident showed visibly anxious passengers stranded at the ride's highest point with a panoramic view of the fairgrounds below. Hannah Norris, one of the affected riders, described her terrifying experience: "All I could think was, 'We're going to drop.' I just started praying. Me and my son, we just started saying a prayer."

The malfunction occurred despite thorough safety measures. The North Carolina Department of Labor had conducted comprehensive pre-opening inspections of nearly 100 rides, including the Vertigo, just days earlier on October 16. North Carolina state regulations mandate that portable amusement rides undergo inspection at each new setup location.

Following the incident, the Vertigo's operating company issued an apology to affected guests and offered complimentary rides once the attraction receives safety clearance to resume operations.

This incident follows a more severe amusement park accident in July, when at least 23 people were injured after a high-speed ride in Saudi Arabia's Taif malfunctioned catastrophically. In that case, the ride broke into two sections due to structural failure, causing the passenger platform to crash to the ground. The Saudi incident prompted immediate closure of the park and calls for stricter amusement ride safety regulations worldwide.