Alton Towers thrillseekers stuck on ride
Alton Towers was hit by more technical and PR problems yesterday when its Galactica ride ground to a halt with thrillseekers stuck in mid air.
The parks operator said it took 19 minutes to get 28 people down from the ride, but witnesses who took to social media said it was more like 30 or 40 minutes.
Alton Towers blamed heavy rain for the problems, saying a sensor had been obscured and the ride was automatically stopped.
"This is a standard safety feature on this ride and the ride was working exactly as it is designed to do," it said.
The 20-metre high ride was formally known as Air but has been refurbished and re-opened in March for this season.
Alton Towers has been battling to rebuild its reputation after a collision on its Smiler ride last June left two teenage passengers needing leg amputations and three others with life changing injuries.
Parent Merlin Entertainments is facing a large fine after it admitted breaching health and safety rules over the incident.
It is due to appear in Stafford crown court on May 20.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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