On Jan. 2, 15 riders were left suspended for about 20 minutes when a signal failure automatically halted the Wild Twister ride at Ocean Park Hong Kong. Staff reset the safety system and all passengers exited safely; no injuries were reported. The attraction remained closed for inspection as of Jan. 5. This is the second similar signal‑related stoppage within five months, following an Aug. 10, 2025 incident that trapped 17 guests for more than an hour.
15 Stranded Mid‑Air on Ocean Park’s Wild Twister After Signal Failure — Second Halt in Five Months
Getty ImagesThe entrance to Ocean Park Hong Kong
Fifteen guests at Ocean Park Hong Kong were left suspended mid‑air on the park’s Wild Twister attraction on Jan. 2 after a signal failure automatically triggered the ride’s safety system, park officials and local outlets reported.
Shortly before 3:00 p.m. local time, the ride stopped operating at 2:57 p.m. while 15 people were aboard. Staff members quickly reset the safety system and returned the ride vehicles to the platform; all passengers exited the facility by 3:16 p.m., and no injuries were reported, an Ocean Park spokesperson told local media.
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via GettyOcean Park Hong Kong aerial photo
What Officials Say
Ocean Park attributed the stoppage to a signal fault that activated the attraction’s safety protection, causing the automatic halt. Park staff reset the system and escorted riders down. As of Jan. 5, the Wild Twister remained closed while inspectors examined the ride, the park said.
Previous Incidents
This was the second similar signal failure involving Wild Twister in five months. On Aug. 10, 2025, a signal fault left 17 guests trapped on the ride for more than an hour before operators and the Fire Services Department escorted them down. Footage from that incident showed passengers secured in their seats on the windmill‑style arms while suspended above the ground.
Viral PressRiders stranded on the Wild Twister during a previous incident in August 2025
The Wild Twister also experienced a brief malfunction in March 2021 when 14 riders were stranded for about six minutes. Separate signal failures have affected other Ocean Park attractions as well: in May 2025 the park’s Tower attraction was suspended after a signal issue left 17 passengers stranded for roughly two hours.
About the Ride and the Park
Ocean Park markets the Wild Twister as the “ultimate spinning thrill ride.” Installed in December 2019, the attraction places riders in seats attached to large mechanical arms that rotate independently and can subject riders to forces the park says reach up to 4G. Ocean Park first opened in 1977 and is widely regarded as one of Hong Kong’s largest and longest‑running theme parks.
Ocean Park did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment beyond local statements confirming the stoppage and that no injuries were reported.
Help us improve.
