People screamed as the Magic Carpet Ride appeared to come off its foundation and sway backward and forwards at the 95th annual National Cherry Festival in Traverse City on Thursday night, UpNorthLive News reported.
There were around a dozen passengers who were hanging on for dear life as they swirled in the air. The ride operator switched off the power and more than a dozen bystanders raced over to help him hang onto the base as they attempted to stabilize it as it swayed.
“I think if they hadn’t been holding it, it would have fallen back,” Kobe Ramirez, who filmed the incident, told The Traverse City Record-Eagle.
“They unplugged it so it was still moving and they had to wait for it to slow down.”
In a TikTok video of the incident, a bystander is heard saying, “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Someone is getting fired.”
The ride finally came to a complete stop and those on board the ride got off after the harness was unlocked.
Passengers got off to cheers from spectators and carnival workers and no injuries were reported, WPBN-TV reported. By Friday morning the ride had been dismantled, the network added.
The clip of the incident, which was posted to the Facebook page of Overheard in Traverse City, prompted a number of comments.
Maggie Floreno-Filan posted: “I now have faith in humans again! Thank God y’all ran in to help hold this thing down until it came to a complete stop!”
Others defended the operator, such as Heidi Williams who posted that “he killed the power immediately, jumped off so he didn’t get hit by the ride, grabbed the rail as if he was going to be able to stop it from tipping over and waved for help,” adding, “I think he did everything he could!”
Another wrote: “It isn’t something the Arnold’s did, this is a problem from the factory. A ride malfunction can not be blamed (on) the owners or ride operator.”
The festival’s executive director, Kat Paye, said the ride had been removed from the site and was being inspected by its manufacturer.
“Inspections of the rides happen daily and written reports are filled out and completed on each ride every morning prior to operation,” Paye said in a statement to The Daily News.
“I am grateful for the quick response of staff and community members and very thankful that there were no injuries,” Paye added.
Joey Even, company officer manager for Arnold Amusements said it was unclear what caused the malfunction. “It was a scary situation and we’re very fortunate… all of the patrons as well as the operator and the other customers that were around the ride are all safe.”
According to Arnold’s Amusements’s website, the Magic Carpet is described as a “spectacular ride imported from England.” It said it “whisks riders 50 feet in the air” as it turns them upside down and as the gondola rotates downward, “riders feel a free-fall sensation.”
Newsweek has contacted Arnold Amusements, Inc. for comment.
