The SkyScreamer stopped about 260 feet above the ground during a brief technical delay.
AUSTELL, Ga. — Riders on the SkyScreamer at Six Flags Over Georgia were left suspended about 260 feet in the air June 14 after the swing ride paused during what park officials later called a technical delay.
The stoppage lasted about 10 minutes and ended with all riders safely returned to the loading area, according to statements from Six Flags. No injuries were reported. The episode drew wide attention after video from the ride spread on social media, showing passengers hanging high above the park while the seats swayed in the air.
The SkyScreamer is one of the tallest rides at Six Flags Over Georgia, lifting riders in open-air swings as the tower spins. The park describes the attraction as reaching 260 feet and traveling up to 40 mph. On June 14, the ride stopped before completing its cycle, leaving guests in their seats above the park. David Early, a rider who recorded the moment, said the pause frightened passengers. In video shared online, riders could be heard reacting with fear as they waited for the ride to move again. Some passengers cried, prayed and asked why the ride had stopped.
Six Flags said the ride did not fail in a way that put guests in danger. The company said the attraction experienced a technical delay, comparing it to a check engine light in a vehicle. “Its safety system performed as designed, keeping all guests safe,” Six Flags said in a statement. After a full systems check, the ride returned to its loading position and guests exited. The park did not publicly identify the exact sensor, signal or mechanical issue that caused the pause. It also did not say how many people were on the ride at the time.
The incident happened at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, west of Atlanta. The park is one of the region’s best-known amusement parks and draws large summer crowds. The SkyScreamer is built around height, speed and exposure, with riders seated in chairs that swing outward as the tower rotates. That design helped make the delay more visible and more frightening to those on board. Videos showed empty chairs moving in the wind near occupied seats while riders waited for the system to clear.
The park said the ride was checked before guests were brought down. No rescue by firefighters or cranes was reported in the Georgia incident. The company’s public statement focused on the ride’s automatic safety response and said guest safety remained its top priority. As of the latest reports, officials had not announced fines, injuries or a formal outside investigation tied to the June 14 pause. Six Flags also did not release a detailed maintenance report or timeline beyond saying the delay lasted about 10 minutes.
The Georgia stoppage came during a month in which other ride delays at amusement parks drew attention online. In Missouri, guests at another Six Flags park were stranded on a ride during a separate incident days earlier, according to local reports. The Georgia case was shorter and ended when the SkyScreamer returned to its loading position. Early later said he rode the attraction again after the incident, but some riders said the experience made them rethink getting back on similar rides.
For now, the reported facts show a brief ride pause, a safety-system response and no reported injuries. Six Flags has not released additional findings on the cause of the June 14 delay.
Author note: Last updated June 28, 2026.