NC state fair ride malfunction sparks outrage after riders left dangling at 100ft; ‘we were praying

Published on: Oct 19, 2025 02:52 am A malfunction at the North Carolina State Fair left dozens of passengers suspended nearly 100 feet in the air. A malfunction at the North Carolina State Fair left dozens of passengers suspended nearly 100 feet in the air Thursday evening when the popular Vertigo ride abruptly stopped mid-operation. A malfunction at the North Carolina State Fair left dozens suspended(Pixabay) According to John Wesley Waugh, Director of Communications for the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), the ride automatically halted after detecting a low-voltage fault, a built-in precaution designed to prevent mechanical failure. Read More: Indian man who once had no passport flies to US on a company-paid trip: ‘College doesn’t matter’ Waugh told PEOPLE that the low-voltage fault triggered the ride to automatically stop as a precaution. “The ride came to a controlled stop, allowing for the safe and timely manual evacuation of all patrons. At no point was anyone at risk,” he stated. Read More: Who is Emiru? Twitch streamer and cosplayer assaulted at TwitchCon 2025 Fair staff carried out a manual evacuation to bring everyone down safely. “The ride came to a controlled stop, allowing for a safe and timely rescue of all patrons,” Waugh added. Video footage captured WRAL News showed anxious riders stranded high above the fairgrounds as emergency crews worked to bring them down. One passenger, Hannah Norris, recalled praying with her young son during the ordeal. “All I could think was, ‘We’re going to drop,’” she told the outlet. Read More: Emiru attack video: Did the TwitchCon assailant pull a knife? Fans speculate The Vertigo, a towering swing-style ride that spins riders in a circle at the top of its mast, had passed a full inspection NCDOL officials earlier that same day, along with nearly 100 other attractions at the fair. It remains unclear how long the riders were stuck before the issue was resolved. In a statement, the company operating the Vertigo offered affected passengers a complimentary ride once the attraction was cleared to reopen. News / Trending / US / NC state fair ride malfunction sparks outrage after riders left dangling at 100ft; ‘we were praying See Less