Sept. 02--Eight visitors to the Montgomery Zoo Monday afternoon were taken by surprise in mid-air when the Zoofari Skylift suddenly stopped, leaving them suspended for about 40 minutes. With the Montgomery Fire Department and the Montgomery Police Department on hand to ensure safety, zoo staff was able to get the ride running long enough for the stranded riders back to the ground.
The cause of the malfunction has not been determined, said Montgomery Zoo Deputy Director Marcia Woodard.
"There was a variance, either with the rope or the weight, but the good part is that is exactly how the sky lift is meant to run. If there is any kind of variance, the system sends a message to the computer and the computer shuts down the ride," Woodard said. Late Monday afternoon, zoo staff members who were trained to work on the ride checked each car and component to determine the cause.
The lift, which opened in Aug. 31, 2012, has 53 double cars and rises to 40 feet above ground at its highest point. Guided by moving cable, it stretches 1,250 feet long one-way and takes guests on a slow 15-minute ride. Monday's incident marked the first time the ride has malfunctioned, Woodard said. She was unsure of when the zoo would open the ride to visitors again, saying it could be as soon as Tuesday if all checks out well, but that safety is the priority.
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