A family has described a harrowing 90-minute ordeal after becoming trapped on a recently refurbished cable car ride at the Alton Towers theme park.
Léla-Jane Jack was among a group of four adults and four children who found themselves stranded mid-air on the Skyride attraction on October 27, 2025. The incident, which lasted for an hour and a half, left members of the party in a state of what they called 'extreme distress'.
Trapped in the Sky: A Harrowing 90-Minute Wait
According to Ms Jack, the traumatic experience was severely exacerbated for members of her group who live with pre-existing medical conditions, including autism, ADHD, anxiety disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
She reported a 'complete absence of information' from theme park staff during the incident. Despite several calls to an emergency helpline, the group was allegedly asked to repeat medical details but given no estimated time for a resolution.
"No effective communication, reassurance, or helpful updates were provided at any point during the incident," Ms Jack told the Manchester Evening News. She claimed the call handlers were not in contact with the technical team and did not know the cause of the fault.
Physical and Emotional Fallout After the Ordeal
The consequences of being trapped were both immediate and severe. Ms Jack described how the group's day was 'effectively ruined' after they finally disembarked.
Guests were reportedly 'incredibly cold' and feeling unwell from the anxiety. The stress of managing conditions like IBS in the confined space resulted in vomiting. One member of the party suffered a significant anxiety attack, with the stress continuing long after they left the park.
The situation was further worsened by being caught in traffic on the journey home, compounding an already 'exhausting and upsetting experience'.
Alton Towers' Response and Safety Protocols
In its statement, Alton Towers Resort confirmed that the Skyride gondolas 'paused during a routine operation' on October 27th. The park insisted that safety was never compromised and that all safety systems functioned as intended.
A spokesperson explained that while some guests disembarked within minutes, others 'had to wait for longer periods', in line with established procedures. All guests had exited the ride by 4.33 pm, and the park remained open until 9 pm that evening.
The resort highlighted that each gondola is equipped with an emergency care kit containing water, thermal blankets, and information leaflets for such situations.
As a gesture of goodwill, all impacted guests were offered complimentary return tickets and refreshments. However, Ms Jack has declined the offer of another visit, stating it is 'not appealing' given the impact of the failures. Alton Towers confirmed they are now 'exploring alternative options' for her party.
