Terrifying Incident on AtmosFEAR Ride in Portland: Passengers Trapped Upside Down

A recent video shared on Imgur has captured a harrowing experience on the AtmosFEAR ride at an amusement park in Portland, OR. The ride, one of the newest attractions at the park, unexpectedly malfunctioned, leaving passengers trapped upside down for an alarming duration.

The video reveals the ride stuck in an inverted position for over two to three minutes, with bystanders expressing deep concern. One observer noted, "This isn't supposed to be upside down like this. It's been like that for like already two to three minutes. I feel bad for them." The situation seemed dire as all power was reportedly shut off on the ride.

As the minutes ticked by, updates from the scene indicated escalating worry. "It's been about five minutes, maybe a little bit more, and they've just been hanging up there this whole time," said another witness. A staff member at the bottom of the Ferris wheel, when asked if such an incident had occurred before, confirmed that it was unprecedented and expressed her own concern for the trapped riders.

The tension reached a peak when park authorities announced, "The park is closed. Vacate the park immediately." This led to further alarm as one spectator remarked, "Holy [expletive], that is actually terrifying. Jesus Christ, I hope those people are okay."

Comments from viewers added more context and reactions to the unfolding drama. One user stated, "They were stuck for about half an hour." Another highlighted the potential dangers of prolonged inversion, explaining, "Being upside down for long periods can be lethal. Your lungs get compressed by your other organs sitting on them, which can make it difficult to breathe. Blood starts pooling in your head, which can rupture blood vessels and cause hemorrhaging. It's a slow, awful way to go out."

Further details emerged, noting that when the ride finally resumed, the passengers still had to endure the ride's swinging motion until it came to a complete stop. One individual with pre-existing conditions was taken to the hospital, while others were cleared by paramedics.

Other comments ranged from practical suggestions to humorous observations. One person quipped, "Just get a bunch of passengers to sway together and I bet they could knock it over." Another commented on the park's announcement, "The park is closed, please leave immediately," interpreting it as an attempt to reduce witnesses.

The incident has sparked discussions about the safety and mechanical reliability of amusement park rides. One user pointed out, "Shouldn't there be some mechanical override for in case this ever happens?" Another drew parallels to a similar ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain, noting that it originally went full inverted but had ceased doing so over a year ago, possibly due to safety concerns.

This alarming event serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with amusement park rides and underscores the importance of stringent safety measures and emergency protocols.