Four people rescued after malfunction strands them 120 feet in the air on Six Flags Sky Screamer ride

The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. Thursday when the Sky Screamer, a 236-foot-tall spinning swing ride, malfunctioned and stopped with four riders — two adults and two teenagers — suspended approximately 120 feet above the ground. Park maintenance crews attempted to manually lower the ride but were unsuccessful, prompting a call to emergency services. Multiple fire units responded, as confirmed by footage showing at least two fire trucks with activated lights at the park entrance. Rescue crews used a crane to reach the stranded riders, placing them in harnesses, removing their ride safety equipment, and lowering them to the ground; a secondary rope system was also prepared as a contingency but was not needed. The entire rescue took more than two hours, and no injuries were reported among the riders or first responders. A spokesperson for Six Flags praised the family for remaining calm throughout the ordeal, and Eureka Fire Chief Scott Barthelmass noted it was the first high-angle rescue at the park. The cause of the malfunction remains under investigation, though park officials emphasized that all rides undergo daily maintenance checks and require sign-offs from multiple departments before opening.