Four riders found themselves stuck high above Six Flags St. Louis on Thursday evening, left dangling about 120 feet in the air on the SkyScreamer swing ride while park staff and emergency crews worked out how to bring them back to earth. Park employees first tried to use the park’s own unload procedure, but when that did not do the trick, they called in outside help. Officials at the scene stressed that the guests were secure while a careful, step-by-step rescue played out.
The Metro West Fire Department told First Alert 4 that its crews, along with other departments, responded to the park for what they described as "an active rescue" in progress. According to the department, four people were stuck about 120 feet above the ground on the SkyScreamer, and park staff had requested assistance after their own procedures failed to lower the riders.
As First Alert 4 relayed, Metro West said the riders were safe and that "there is no risk of them falling." In a statement to the station, Six Flags said a park representative was "up with the guests" and that the company was doing "all we can" to "get them safely unloaded." Neither park officials nor fire officials immediately offered a timeline for when the riders would be back on solid ground.
How a SkyScreamer Works and Why Rescues Take Time
The SkyScreamer at Six Flags St. Louis is a Funtime StarFlyer that reaches about 236 feet, making it the tallest swing ride in the park. As InPark and Coaster Critic note, riders sit in chairs that hang from long chains while the tower lifts and spins them. The attraction runs on automated cycles, and when those cycles pause or a mechanical issue shows up, guests can be left suspended until staff or emergency crews carry out a manual unload. Those manual procedures are intentionally slow and cautious, which can turn a routine safety response into a lengthy operation even when no one is hurt.
Not the First Ride Stop This Spring
The Eureka incident follows several high-profile ride stops at Six Flags properties earlier this season, including riders stranded at roughly 200 feet in the air at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and a mid-May power outage that forced guests to use emergency staircases to get down; national coverage is available from Fox News and Parade. Those outlets reported that there were no injuries and that staff evacuated guests only after safety checks were completed. Taken together, the incidents highlight a reality of modern thrill rides: the pauses are unnerving, but they often end in orderly evacuations and few, if any, serious injuries.
Elsewhere in Six Flags St. Louis, park operations appeared to continue while the SkyScreamer rescue unfolded. Officials did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment beyond what they shared with local media. This story will be updated if the park or fire department releases more information.
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