Eight students rescued from stalled roller coaster in Galveston, Texas

On Thursday, May 29, 2026, eight students became trapped on the Iron Shark roller coaster at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas. The ride malfunctioned around 5:20 p.m., leaving the passengers suspended in the air on a vertical section of the track. Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. confirmed that emergency crews initiated a high-angle rescue operation using a ladder truck. Rescuers lowered each student individually to safety using an elevating basket. Although media reports differed on the exact duration of the entrapment, citing periods ranging from minutes to hours, the operation concluded successfully with no injuries reported. Local authorities have not yet determined the mechanical cause of the sudden stop. The school involved issued a statement regarding the incident following the successful rescue.