Coney Island Cyclone Shut Down Indefinitely After Mid-Ride Stop

The iconic Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster has been closed indefinitely after a forced mid-ride halt. The 97-year-old attraction at Luna Park encountered a technical issue on Thursday when a damaged chain sprocket in the motor room caused operators to halt the ride as it was climbing the tracks, stated New York City's Department of Buildings. Passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

Video footage circulated on social media shows personnel carefully guiding a rider off the tracks. Inspectors from the Department of Buildings visited the site on Friday, issuing Luna Park owners violations for the damaged machinery and not promptly informing the department of the incident. According to a post on Luna Park's website, the Cyclone will resume operations only after repairs are finished and the ride passes a thorough inspection.

From the park: "At Luna Park in Coney Island, safety is our number one priority and ride maintenance, and thorough testing happens daily before Luna Park opens and throughout the day as necessary." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)