An amusement park ride carrying dozens of revellers has collapsed in mid-air, smashing into two pieces and injuring 23.
The ride, called ‘360 Degrees’, hit its own pillar – sparking scenes of panic among the visitors at the Green Mountain Resort in the Saudi Arabian city of Taif today.
At least three passengers were critically injured when the ride broke in half.
Footage shows a loud crack as it reached its peak before swinging back down.
Screams of happiness turned into wails as the ride crashed against a pillar, snapping in two, and on to the ground.
It then lurched back up and an object appeared to be flung from the ride.
The thrill seekers fortunately remained seated during the crash, with safety harnesses fixing them in place.
An amusement park ride carrying dozens of revellers in Saudi Arabia collapsed while in mid-air
The ride, called ‘360 Degrees’, collided with its own pillar, sparking scenes of panic
Excitable screams turned into desperate wails as it crashed against the pillar, snapping in two
The horrified riders are then heard screaming in fear, with three critically injured people rushed to hospital.
Eyewitnesses said the ride’s pole ‘recoiled at high speed’ before it crashed down.
They also reported the pole striking people standing on the opposite side.
The wounded were given first aid at the theme park before going to hospital, as several in Taif declared a Code Yellow emergency.
Operations in the theme park are thought to have been temporarily suspended.
Saudi Arabian law enforcement have since launched a probe into the crash.
It comes just months after a similar ride left a 13-year-old with multiple fractures after launching him from his seat.
The teenager was a passenger on the Pendulum 360 ride in Indonesia when the horror unfolded.
The thrill seekers completed a full loop and slowed down at the top, leaving the riders suspended upside down as intended.
At least 23 visitors were injured after the smash in the popular Saudi Arabian tourist city
The wounded were given first aid at the theme park before going to hospital in Taif
However as the gondola started to fall to earth, the boy clearly slipped from his seat and can be seen dangling on to a bar for dear life as the ride continues rotating.
The scene was caught on camera by one of the park goers at Jatim Park in Batu, Indonesia on April 8.
The boy fell from a height of around one and a half to two metres, NeedToKnow reported.
He was rushed to hospital where he was found to have suffered two fractures to his right hand and one to his right leg.
Police ordered the theme park to temporarily suspend operations of the Pendulum ride.
