Fearful riders forced to evacuate Coney Island Cyclone for the SECOND time this season after it screeches to a halt at top (but the ride is running again already)

  • Legendary Cyclone screeched to a halt before big drop at 2pm Saturday
  • Two dozen passengers were forced to climb down steep incline on foot
  • They were escorted by Coney Island rescue crews; no reported injuries
  • It is second time the 88-year-old Cyclone has broken down this season
  • In March 29, another 24 terrified riders were evacuated from old coaster
  • But one rider told DailyMail.com she and daughter would go on it again

Two dozen fearful riders were forced to climb down Coney Island's Cyclone on foot on Saturday afternoon for the second time this season after the legendary roller coaster screeched to a halt.

The passengers had just started riding the 88-year-old coaster at the amusement park in Brooklyn, New York, at about 2pm when it made a 'clicking' noise and stopped at the top of its first big drop.

Around five minutes later, rescue crews arrived on scene and unbuckled the stranded passengers from their seats. They then assisted them in climbing down the high-up, 60-feet incline on foot.

It is the second time the Cyclone has broken down this season after it stopped on the same incline on the park's opening day in March, leaving another 24 passengers stuck dozens of feet in the air.

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Malfunction: Two dozen fearful riders were forced to climb down Coney Island's Cyclone on foot on Saturday afternoon (pictured) for the second time this season after the legendary roller coaster screeched to a halt

Malfunction: Two dozen fearful riders were forced to climb down Coney Island's Cyclone on foot on Saturday afternoon (pictured) for the second time this season after the legendary roller coaster screeched to a halt

Escorted down: The passengers had just started riding the 88-year-old coaster at the amusement park in Brooklyn, New York, at  2pm when it  stopped at the top of its first big drop. Above, riders are helped down

Escorted down: The passengers had just started riding the 88-year-old coaster at the amusement park in Brooklyn, New York, at 2pm when it stopped at the top of its first big drop. Above, riders are helped down

We've made it! Lori Lieberman and her daughter Olivia cheer as they reach the bottom of the rollercoaster

We've made it! Lori Lieberman and her daughter Olivia cheer as they reach the bottom of the rollercoaster

Incredibly, within hours of Saturday's incident, Luna Park in Coney Island, which manages the coaster, said that workers had inspected and repaired the old ride - and it was running again.

On Saturday night, Lori Lieberman, who was on the coaster with her teenage daughter Olivia when it broke down, told DailyMail.com that Olivia was 'nervous but composed' walking down the ride.

'We were at Coney island celebrating my son's sixth birthday,' said Mrs Lieberman. 'Olivia and I waited to ride the Cyclone and when we went on, it broke down. Olivia was nervous but composed.'

She added that the first worker arrived around five minutes after the ride screeched to a halt and was 'very helpful'. And she said despite her experience, she would ride the famed coaster again. 

'Millions of people have ridden the cyclone, few have walked down,' she told DailyMail.com.

'We would both ride it again in the future.'

Footage captured by Mrs Lieberman's husband, Andy, shows the mother and daughter being led slowly down the wooden incline. They cheer and wave as they reach the bottom of the ride.

Rescue: Around five minutes after the breakdown, rescue crews arrived on scene and unbuckled the stuck passengers from their seats. They then assisted them in climbing down the high-up, 60-feet incline on foot

Rescue: Around five minutes after the breakdown, rescue crews arrived on scene and unbuckled the stuck passengers from their seats. They then assisted them in climbing down the high-up, 60-feet incline on foot

Not put off: Mrs Lieberman and Olivia are led down the famed coaster, which they say they would go on again

Not put off: Mrs Lieberman and Olivia are led down the famed coaster, which they say they would go on again

'Scary': Eyewitness marlon Kuilan tweeted: 'Kids were stuck on the Famous Cyclone ride in Coney Island Brooklyn NY.. Staff had to walk them down. Scary!!' He was visiting the park at the time, not on the coaster

'Scary': Eyewitness marlon Kuilan tweeted: 'Kids were stuck on the Famous Cyclone ride in Coney Island Brooklyn NY.. Staff had to walk them down. Scary!!' He was visiting the park at the time, not on the coaster

Dramatic: Incredibly, within hours of Saturday's incident, Luna Park in Coney Island, which manages the coaster, said that the ride was running again. Above, passengers are led down the steep wooden incline

Dramatic: Incredibly, within hours of Saturday's incident, Luna Park in Coney Island, which manages the coaster, said that the ride was running again. Above, passengers are led down the steep wooden incline

Other passengers can be seen stranded further up the coaster, which opened in 1927.

Another video, taken by witness Marlon Orlando Kuilan, shows workers holding onto passengers' arms as they lead them to safety. Mr Kuilan later posted the footage on his Facebook page.

He wrote: 'Kids were stuck on the Famous Cyclone ride in Coney Island Brooklyn NY.. Staff had to walk them down. Scary!! I managed to capture the footage.. I won't be getting on that ride!!!'

Speaking to the New York Post, Michael Osborn, 36, who was in one of the Cyclone's rear cars with his girlfriend, Jessica Laux, 34, described the moment the coaster stopped just before the big drop.

'The car stopped. We heard a sudden click and a brake and the car just stopped – that’s it,' said Mr Osborn. 'Luckily, it stopped before the big drop. … We were mildly concerned, sure.

First breakdown: It is the second time the Cyclone has broken down this season after it stopped on the same incline on the park's opening day in March (above), leaving another 24 people stuck dozens of feet in the air

First breakdown: It is the second time the Cyclone has broken down this season after it stopped on the same incline on the park's opening day in March (above), leaving another 24 people stuck dozens of feet in the air

Terrified: A woman looks terrified as she climbs down the 88-year-old coaster after it malfunctioned in March

Terrified: A woman looks terrified as she climbs down the 88-year-old coaster after it malfunctioned in March

Chaos: Workers assist thrill seekers on the Cyclone roller coaster after it got stuck on its inaugural run

Chaos: Workers assist thrill seekers on the Cyclone roller coaster after it got stuck on its inaugural run

'That [the walk off the Cyclone] was worse than the stop. The ladder – the rungs aren’t too stable.'  

Like Mrs Lieberman and her daughter, Mr Osborn also said he would ride the Cyclone again.

However, rider Matt Levin, 27, said he would need some 'coaxing' before going back on it.

'It was a little scary. I mean, you look down and you’re pretty high up. And so it was a little bit scary,' he said. 'But at the end of the day…you know, I always wanted to go on the Cyclone.'

There were no reports of any injuries in Saturday's breakdown, according toNBC.

During the March 29 incident, the Cyclone malfunctioned during its season-opening run at the same spot as it did on Saturday. The riders, including young children, said the incident was 'terrifying'.

 

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