Terrifying Moment at Six Flags America as 32 Riders Rescued from Stuck Attraction
BOWIE, Md. — A frightening situation unfolded at Six Flags America in Bowie on Saturday when 32 guests were stranded for over an hour on the SteamWhirler ride.
Firefighters and EMS arrived at the park around 3:25 p.m. to assist. All riders were evaluated and later cleared by emergency personnel.
The SteamWhirler, introduced in 2024, is described as a “moderate thrill” attraction featuring four spinning arms, each carrying eight passengers.
During their response, EMS also assisted a guest experiencing a separate medical emergency. That individual was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, unrelated to the ride malfunction.
This incident comes as the park approaches its closure. Six Flags America, which has operated in Bowie for 51 years (26 under the Six Flags name), is scheduled to shut down permanently on Nov. 2 due to financial decisions by its parent company.