Dramatic video footage has emerged showing newly renovated cable cars swinging violently as they ascended a mountainside in a popular Austrian ski resort, sparking alarm among onlookers.
The Viral Incident in Zillertal
The unsettling event occurred on Sunday in the Zillertal Arena ski area in Tyrol. Video, which has since spread widely online, shows eight-person gondola carriages lurching up and down erratically while travelling up a steep section of the slope. Skiers below were seen stopping to watch the astonishing and concerning sight.
Despite the alarming visuals, the managing director of the Zeller Bergbahnen cable car company, Annemarie Kröll, was quick to assure the public that passengers were never in jeopardy. "There was no danger to the guests at any time – neither in the gondolas nor on the slopes," she told the Krone newspaper.
Cause and Immediate Response
Kröll explained that the rocking motion was attributed to new drive units and altered technical parameters following the renovation. She noted the effect was particularly pronounced in the long span between support towers 2 and 3. "It is essential to emphasize that the safety of the passengers in the gondolas was never at risk," she reiterated.
In response to the incident, the operator has taken immediate action. The operating speed of the gondolas has been adjusted to reduce vibrations. This measure will remain in place until a further technological update is completed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the event.
A Grim Reminder of Cable Car Dangers
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with aerial lifts, coming just over a year after a tragic cable car accident in Italy. In April of last year, a British couple, two Israeli tourists, and the cabin driver were killed when their cable car plummeted nearly 100 feet on Monte Faito, overlooking the Bay of Naples.
In that disaster, the cabin had ground to a halt just 20 seconds from safety before its emergency brake allegedly failed. The traction cable then snapped, sending the carriage swinging into a pylon before it fell into a ravine. The tragic event underscores the critical importance of rigorous safety protocols and maintenance in cable car operations across the Alps and beyond.
