Human error caused Alton Towers crash
Human error caused the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash in June that seriously injured five people, the theme park has revealed.
It said that staff misunderstood a shutdown message and restarted the Smiler ride, overriding the control system without following the correct safety procedures.
The park said it had followed standard HR procedures and taken ‘appropriate action’ in dealing with the staff whose mistakes had caused the crash.
However, it said this was a private matter between Alton Towers and the individuals involved.
A total of 16 people were injured in the smash and two women had their legs amputated. One man was treated for a collapsed lung and a woman suffered internal injuries.
The ride, which has been closed since the accident in June, will reopen next year with improved safety measures, including an additional level of authorization so no manual override can happen without authorization from a senior staff member.
Alton Towers said there was no technical or mechanical issue with the ride at the time of the accident
The park’s owner Merlin Entertainments saw revenues fall by 11.4% across its theme park division over the first nine months of its financial year after visitor numbers to Alton Towers dropped significantly.
The company has announced ‘a restructuring’ of the business, which will shed up to 190 jobs.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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