Upper Marlboro, Monday, 18 August 2025.
A dramatic technical malfunction at Six Flags America in Maryland prompted a swift rescue operation on Saturday afternoon. Emergency crews from Prince George’s County Fire and EMS responded at 3:25 p.m. to a ride that unexpectedly halted mid-cycle, leaving 32 riders stranded. Technical rescue units collaborated with park staff to safely evacuate all passengers within approximately 30 minutes. One rider was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, which was reportedly unrelated to the rescue incident. The park has committed to conducting a thorough review of the ride to determine the cause of the malfunction, underscoring the critical importance of theme park safety protocols and rapid emergency response capabilities.
Incident Overview
On Saturday afternoon, a technical malfunction at Six Flags America in Prince George’s County, Maryland, triggered an emergency rescue operation that involved 32 riders [1][2]. The incident occurred at 3:25 p.m. on the 13700 block of Central Avenue in Largo, prompting an immediate response from Prince George’s County Fire and EMS (PGFD) technical rescue units [1][3].
Rescue Operation Details
Emergency crews worked collaboratively with park staff to evacuate the stranded riders, completing the rescue within approximately 30 minutes [4]. Of the 32 passengers, 14 were medically evaluated on-site [4]. One individual was transported to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, which was later clarified as unrelated to the ride malfunction [2][3].
Park’s Response and Future
A Six Flags spokesperson stated that the ride did not complete its typical cycle and paused before returning to the ground [3]. The company has committed to conducting a thorough review to determine the cause of the malfunction [3]. Notably, Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are scheduled to close on 2 November 2025, as part of the company’s strategic park portfolio reassessment [3].
Bronnen