North Carolina's fairground ride stops at 100 feet, leaving thrill-seekers reeling: 'We just started praying'

A glitch at the North Carolina State Fair left riders stranded nearly 100 feet in the air after the Vertigo ride stopped mid-operation. All passengers were rescued safely, and the operator offered free rides. NC State Fair ride stops in midair, leaves riders stranded.(istock ) A technical malfunction at the North Carolina State Fair Thursday night suspended several riders nearly 100 feet above the ground when the popular Vertigo ride suddenly stopped working. According to John Wesley Waugh, Director of Communications for the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), the ride automatically stopped after detecting a low-voltage fault — a built-in safety feature designed to prevent mechanical failure. “The ride came to a controlled stop, allowing for the safe and timely manual evacuation of all customers. At no point was anyone in danger,” Waugh told PEOPLE. Passengers Evacuate Safely Show crew and emergency crews performed a manual evacuation and dropped all passengers safely. Videos shared by WRAL News showed worried riders hanging high above the fairgrounds as rescue operations continued. One passenger, Hannah Norris, recalled praying with her young son during the ordeal. “All I could think was, ‘We’re going to fall,'” she said. “I just started praying. Me and my son, we just started praying.” Ride Passes Inspection The Vertigo, a towering swing-style attraction that spins passengers in wide circles, was fully inspected by NCDOL officials earlier that day, along with nearly 100 other rides at the fair. It is not yet clear how long passengers were left stranded before they were brought down safely. Operator offers free ride after incident In a statement, the company that operates the Vertigo apologized for the inconvenience and said affected riders would be offered a complimentary ride once the attraction reopens after security clearance. Saudi Arabia theme park ride collapses In a similar incident, at least 23 people were injured, some seriously, after a ride collapsed at Green Mountain Park near Taif, Saudi Arabia, on July 31, according to reports from the Khaleej Times. Videos circulating online showed passengers enjoying the ‘360 degree’ ride when its central pole suddenly broke in two, causing the structure to collapse while people were still on board. Several riders were hit by falling metal parts, while others were injured after being thrown from their seats. Witnesses said the pole rebounded at high speed and hit people on the opposite side. Emergency crews and security officials arrived immediately, and nearby hospitals in Taif declared a Code Yellow to treat the victims. The injured received first aid at the scene before being taken to local hospitals for further treatment.