The Cyclone roller coaster on Coney Island in New York City has been put to a stop for an indefinite amount of time. The attraction at Luna Park came to a halt mid-ride and its owners were issued violations after an inspection by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB).
Coney Island has been a retreat for New Yorkers for years and, especially during the summer months, it is a popular place to take a breather from daily business. The 97-year-old Cyclone roller coaster has become an iconic landmark but was shut down for an indefinite period on Friday, 23 August, after a malfunctioning the day before. During the malfunctioning, the attraction had to be stopped mid-ride and several people had to be removed from the roller coaster. None of them were injured during the process.
JUST IN: The Coney Island Cyclone got stuck and one park-goer was shown being helped down. (🎥: Patty McNeice). – https://t.co/uv1e6Wiq18 pic.twitter.com/9Uvfe3he9p
— News12BX (@News12BX) August 23, 2024
“The Coney Island Cyclone was stopped due to 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”, the Luna Park owners told Fox 5 NY.
The reason for putting a halt to the ride was a damaged chain sprocket in the motor room, which caused the operators to stop the roller coaster altogether. On Friday, inspectors with the buildings department issued the owners of Luna Park violations, both for failure to maintain due to the crack in the sprocket and for failure to notify the DOB of the incident.
“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”, Luna Park states on its website. “The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old roller coaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily. NYC’s Department of Buildings inspected and cleared the ride to open on 21 August 2024. The Coney Island Cyclone is temporarily closed due to a mechanical problem that developed on 22 August 2024, and is currently undergoing repairs. We will reopen the Cyclone roller coaster when the repair is complete and the ride passes its DOB inspection.”
As no specific date has been set as to when the Cyclone will reopen its doors, it is yet unclear when Coney Island-goers will be able to enjoy the attraction again.
