The renowned “Cyclone” roller coaster at Coney Island has been shut down indefinitely following a malfunction that caused it to halt while riders were still on board last week.

The 97-year-old wooden coaster operated by Luna Park was in the process of ascending on Thursday afternoon when ride operators decided to take it out of operation due to a crack found in the chain sprocket within the ride’s motor room, according to a statement from New York City’s Department of Buildings to YSL News on Monday.

Several individuals were safely removed from the roller coaster, and fortunately, no injuries were reported, the department confirmed.

A video shared on social media captured the moment as park staff carefully assisted a rider down the tracks.

Violations issued to Luna Park

Inspectors from the Department of Buildings (DOB) visited the site on Friday and issued the owners of Luna Park violations related to the damaged equipment and for not promptly notifying the department about the incident, the statement revealed.

According to DOB spokesperson David Maggiotto, “The ‘Cyclone’ is currently out of operation and will stay that way until the necessary repairs are made by the park operators.” He mentioned that the park may request a follow-up inspection once repairs are completed.

“If we determine that the ride is safe during that inspection, Luna Park will be allowed to resume operations,” Maggiotto stated.

‘Safety is our top priority,’ says roller coaster management

Luna Park also announced that the ride was “temporarily closed due to a mechanical issue that arose on August 22, 2024,” and it is currently being repaired.

“At Luna Park in Coney Island, safety remains our highest concern, and we perform daily maintenance and thorough testing before the park opens as well as throughout the day as needed,” their statement on the website reads. “The Coney Island ‘Cyclone’ is a historic roller coaster that is carefully maintained and inspected every day.”

“We will reopen the Cyclone roller coaster once the repairs are finished and it successfully passes the Department of Buildings inspection,” they added.