Cyclone riders forced to climb down the Coney Island roller coaster after it loses power

New York City roller coaster riders got an unexpected thrill when their theme park ride lost power and they were forced to walk down to safety.  

Riders of the Coney Island Cyclone in New York City’s Luna Park were stranded at the top of the ride Saturday when the roller coaster unexpectedly lost power midway through their journey. 

The passengers got stuck at the top of the historic wooden roller coaster’s peak, which is 85-feet up in the air.  

Onlookers down below watched — and snapped pictures — as theme park staffers helped the riders exit the ride’s car and led them over to stairs that run alongside the track, so they could descend to ground level.  

In a statement, obtained by CBS New York, Luna Park noted that the roller coaster ‘temporarily lost power today due to an electrical issue and the cars slowed to a stop on the track.’

The theme park also stated that power was restored to the ride and that inspectors had examined the ride to ‘certify that everything is fully safe and operational.’

The roller coaster riders were stranded at the peak of the ride, 85-feet up in the air (stock) 

The historic wooden roller coaster was shut down for two hours while the power was turned back on and inspectors were sent to ensure the ride’s safety (stock) 

The Cyclone was shut down for about two hours altogether before reopening for thrillseekers to ride. 

None of the stranded riders were reported as having been injured during the incident. 

In 2015, the Cyclone shut down twice mid-ride during one season, the New York Post reported. 

The stomach-churning snafu comes three years after the Cyclone experienced two mid-ride shutdowns in one season — 

The Cyclone was first opened in 1927 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.