Legoland Shanghai Resort Photo:VCG

LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort responded on Sunday to an incident involving its signature roller coaster, "The BIG LEGO Coaster," which stalled mid-air a day earlier. The resort said the stoppage was caused by an automatic safety mechanism designed to halt the ride if any abnormality is detected. Staff promptly evacuated all passengers in accordance with established protocols, and no injuries were reported, according to local media outlet The Paper.

A full inspection confirmed it met all safety standards, and operations resumed on Saturday afternoon. The resort issued an apology and offered assistance to affected visitors, The Paper reported.

The incident occurred around midday Saturday when the BIG LEGO Coaster came to an unexpected halt shortly after departure. Park staff evacuated riders using emergency stairs and safety railings, and the ride resumed operations by 1 pm, the report said.

According to Xinmin Evening News, a local resident surnamed Li, who was among those on the stalled ride, described the BIG LEGO Coaster as one of the park's most popular attractions, often requiring over an hour of waiting. Li said the train came to a sudden stop at around 12:05 pm, suspending riders mid-air.

Despite the unexpected stoppage, most passengers remained calm, Li said. He noted that emergency stairways run beneath the entire track, and handrails are installed on the right side of each car. After arriving at the scene, rescue personnel quickly set up a black mesh safety barrier on the left side of the cars to prevent accidental falls during evacuation. Park staff then guided passengers down the stairs in an orderly manner. 

The BIG LEGO Coaster is the park's longest roller coaster, with a total track length of 530 meters. It remained closed during the park's internal testing phase from May 31 to June 19 and only opened to the public with the start of trial operations on June 20. Since then, it has consistently been the park's most popular attraction, with wait times often exceeding 60 minutes, according to The Paper.

Global Times