Exclusive video of rescue raises questions after Cyclone roller coaster at Luna Park halts mid-ride

The Department of Buildings says an inspector will visit the park today to investigate the incident.

News 12 Staff

Aug 23, 2024, 10:43 AM

Updated 124 days ago

Share:

Exclusive video shared with News 12 shows people being escorted off the world-famous Cyclone roller coaster at Luna Park Thursday afternoon. Witnesses reported that the coaster suddenly stopped mid-ride.
It's still not clear why the ride stopped. The coaster, which reaches speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and stands eight stories tall, was closed for the remainder of the night Thursday.
The Department of Buildings says an inspector will visit the park today to investigate the incident. A spokesperson for the department says all Luna Park rides are subject to full inspections each spring and receive random spot checks throughout the year.
Luna Park is scheduled to open at 11 a.m. today. News 12 has reached out to the park for further details and to determine if the Cyclone will be operational. The park has yet to respond.
Luna Park provided the following statement to News 12:
"At Luna Park in Coney Island, safety is our number one priority and ride maintenance, and thorough testing happens daily before Luna Park opens and throughout the day as necessary. The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old roller coaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily. It is not uncommon to stop a ride and evacuate the ride if an issue arises for the safety of our guests. The Coney Island Cyclone was stopped due do a mechanical problem that developed yesterday and is currently undergoing repairs. We will reopen the Cyclone roller coaster when the repair is complete and the ride passes its DOB inspection."