Mechanical failure left visitors stranded in the London Eye ferris wheel on a record-breaking hot day.
Image: Chait Goli/Pexels
Hundreds of visitors were left trapped in the glass pods of the London Eye yesterday, on what turned out to be the hottest May Day ever recorded in Britain.
The iconic Ferris wheel came to an unexpected halt for approximately 10 minutes as temperatures soared to 28°C in the capital.
Tourists aboard the 135-metre-high attraction found themselves suspended in the air while engineers worked urgently to fix the malfunction.
An announcement from the London Eye informed visitors that technical staff were addressing the issue, which appeared to involve a mechanical failure.
On the ground, crowds gathered at the base of the landmark as the attraction was forced to spin in reverse to correct the fault.
The London Eye, which features 32 capsules capable of holding up to 28 passengers each, experienced the breakdown during peak visiting hours, causing both concern and discomfort due to the unseasonably hot weather.
This isn’t the first time the popular tourist destination has experienced technical issues. In 2016, a similar malfunction left hundreds of passengers stuck in the air for several hours.
Opened in March 2000, the London Eye stands on the banks of the River Thames, directly across from the Houses of Parliament. It has since become one of the city's most recognisable landmarks and a must-see for tourists from around the globe.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident, and operations resumed shortly after the issue was resolved. However, the event raised questions about maintenance and safety protocols, especially during high-capacity days.
IOL Travel