Coaster Nightmare: Riders Stranded Mid-Air for More Than Half an Hour

An unsettling incident at a Texas amusement attraction has reignited concerns about ride safety after two young men were left suspended high above the ground when a roller coaster malfunctioned mid-ride. What began as a thrill-seeking experience turned into a prolonged emergency that required first responders to intervene late Wednesday night.

The central news element is this: two riders were stranded for more than half an hour on a malfunctioning “tilt” roller coaster at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, hanging more than 100 feet in the air at a near-vertical, 90-degree angle before they were finally rescued.

A Harrowing Incident

The attraction involved was Circuit Breakers, a so-called tilt coaster designed to heighten suspense by holding riders in place before releasing them into a steep drop. In this case, however, the dramatic pause never ended as expected. The ride climbed approximately 130 feet and abruptly stalled at the first drop, leaving Matthew Cantu, 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, staring straight down at the ground below.

According to reports, the men remained trapped in that position for 36 minutes. Their publicist told KXAN that a relative ultimately called 911 after growing increasingly concerned about their condition. First responders arrived roughly 10 minutes later and worked to safely bring the riders down.

A spokesperson for the park attributed the incident to a technical issue tied to the ride’s monitoring systems. “A sensor triggered a ride delay,” the representative told Fox News Digital in a statement.

“It was resolved, and the ride proceeded without incident. As with all amusement attractions of this sort, delays occasionally occur. We regret the inconvenience and are glad that out of the 25,000 people that have ridden the coaster, only two have this badge of courage.”

While the park emphasized that the system functioned as intended by stopping the ride, the riders’ reported physical symptoms paint a more troubling picture of what prolonged suspension can do to the human body. KXAN reported that Cantu experienced “lightheadedness and symptoms consistent with blood pooling” while stuck in the vertical position. Sanchez allegedly experienced “numbness in his upper leg,” raising concerns about circulation and nerve compression during the ordeal.

Riders Express Injuries

Beyond the physical toll, communication during the emergency was also called into question. The riders’ spokesperson described confusion among witnesses and family members during the stoppage. “For more than 30 minutes after the ride stopped, family members reported receiving no clear updates, while witnesses said staff provided conflicting explanations, including comments that the riders ‘weren’t strapped in correctly,’” the spokesperson told the outlet via email.

That detail adds another layer of tension to an already alarming situation. Conflicting explanations, especially suggestions of rider error, can heighten anxiety for those watching loved ones trapped hundreds of feet above the ground.

Tilt coasters like Circuit Breakers are built with multiple redundancies, including sensors designed to halt operations if anything appears outside safe parameters. From an engineering perspective, such shutdowns are meant to prevent catastrophic outcomes. From a guest’s perspective, however, the experience of being immobilized at a 90-degree angle for more than half an hour can quickly cross from thrilling to terrifying.

SCARY SIGHT: Two men were spotted holding on for dear life at the peak of a 130-foot drop after a roller coaster malfunctioned in Texas. The pair was suspended at a terrifying 90-degree angle facing straight toward the ground.

A frantic relative called 911 as the riders hung… pic.twitter.com/BbaPrIlcvQ

— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 22, 2025

The fact that emergency services were called underscores how serious the situation appeared in real time. Although the incident ended without confirmed long-term injuries, the psychological impact may linger for both the riders and witnesses who saw the scene unfold.

As thrill attractions continue to push boundaries in height and design, incidents like this highlight the delicate balance between mechanical safety systems and human endurance. Even when a ride stops because it is designed to do so, the experience of being stranded can expose gaps between technical safeguards and guest welfare.

For Cantu and Sanchez, a night meant for excitement became an ordeal marked by uncertainty, physical distress, and a lengthy rescue. While the park described the incident as rare, the image of two riders frozen at the edge of a 130-foot drop is likely to remain a powerful reminder of how quickly thrill rides can turn from entertainment into emergency.