North Carolina State Fairgoers were stranded high above the ground for nearly an hour after a malfunction on the Vertigo swing ride, sparking outrage over safety and the company’s tone-deaf “complimentary ride” offer.
A routine thrill ride turned into a nerve-wracking spectacle at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh on October 16. That’s when the Vertigo attraction suddenly stalled mid-air, stranding riders roughly 100 feet above the fairgrounds. The incident unfolded on the event’s opening day. It quickly dominated social feeds as onlookers filmed the motionless yellow-and-blue swing tower against a cloudless Carolina sky.
According to state agriculture officials, a low-voltage trigger automatically shut the ride down around midday. Therefore, freezing its rotation and locking the seats in place for approximately 45 minutes. The Vertigo’s built-in safety system detected the irregular current and stopped to prevent further mechanical strain. It’s a precaution that, while frustrating for riders, prevented more serious consequences.
Maintenance crews and state inspectors arrived within minutes, assessing the tower and manually lowering passengers back to the ground. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. After a full safety inspection, the Vertigo was cleared and reopened later that afternoon…