A cell phone violation at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio brought a swing ride to an abrupt halt last month, leaving riders suspended 200 feet above the ground for up to 15 minutes while maintenance crews worked to bring them down safely.
Riders Left Hanging After Safety Breach
Maria Salazar and her husband were aboard the Supergirl Sky Flight on April 26, 2026, when the ride suddenly stopped mid-operation. Stranded high above the park with other riders, Salazar captured video showing their precarious position. The couple and their friends remained suspended in the air, unable to move, while park officials addressed the safety violation that triggered the emergency shutdown.
Salazar described the experience as frightening despite her initial attempt to stay calm. The group waited between 10 and 15 minutes before maintenance personnel could safely lower the ride and allow guests to exit. The unexpected stop left riders questioning what had gone wrong as they sat motionless at maximum height.
Park Cites Cell Phone Policy Violation
Six Flags officials explained that a ride operator spotted a guest pulling out a cell phone during the attraction, directly violating the theme park’s safety policy. The operator immediately stopped the ride as a precautionary measure. According to the park’s statement, once the cell phone was put away and the safety issue resolved, the ride resumed normal operation and all guests exited without injury.
The park confirmed the ride remained operational for the rest of the day following the incident. A Six Flags spokesperson emphasized that stopping the ride was necessary to address the guest’s violation of established safety protocols designed to protect all riders.
Safety Protocols Under Scrutiny
Theme parks nationwide maintain strict policies prohibiting loose items including cell phones on high-speed and elevated attractions. These rules exist because falling objects can injure guests below or cause riders to lose balance while reaching for dropped items. The incident highlights the tension between guests wanting to capture their experience and safety requirements that protect everyone in the park. While Salazar herself recorded video after the ride stopped, park officials made clear that the original violation occurred during active operation, creating the dangerous situation operators had to address immediately.
PERHAPS ALL OF THE RIDERS NEED TO LEAVE THEIR PHONES IN SECURE BOXES OR PLACES WHILE RIDING… OR IF THEY DON’T WANT TO DO THAT NOT BE ALLOWED TO RIDE IT AT ALL, OR THE PARK NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIDER KNOWS THAT THEY WILL BE FINED IF THEY USE THEIR PHONE WHILE THE RIDE IS IN OPERATION. BEING AS SHE USED THE PHONE AFTER THE RIDE HAD STOPPED THEN I WOULD THINK THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO VIOLATION ON HER PART… HOWEVER, “ALL” OF THE RIDERS “MUST” KNOW THE RULES AND ABIDE BY THEM…
What you gonna do when you live in a world full of people that treat everyone else the same way they treat their own bowel movements? Anarchy on so manyt levels it is everyu man, woman and child for themselves.
I heard everyone under 25 is entitled
While the ride was STOPPED when the video was done the person who did the video of the incident while up in the air was very likeley using their cell phone to do the shoot!