Firefighters seen evacuating passengers from Skyfari ride at Mendon's Southwick's Zoo

Firefighters evacuated over 30 passengers from a stalled aerial ride at Southwick's Zoo in Mendon, Massachusetts, on Monday. The Skyfari ride, which offers aerial views of the zoo's exhibits, was halted due to an unexpected issue. Zoo officials acknowledged the Mendon Fire Department's quick response, which involved their trained operations and security teams. Bill Hekseth and his grandson Cameron were among the last to be evacuated after nearly two hours suspended in the air. Hekseth's wife called 911 when they faced difficulties accessing their gondola.

Cameron expressed initial excitement about the ride but later voiced his dislike once it became stuck. The Skyfari ride, installed in 2007, previously experienced an incident in July 2022, prompting zoo management to implement an emergency response plan. Regular maintenance checks are conducted every three hours, according to the zoo's co-owner, Betsy Brewer.