Fairground Ride Snaps Mid-Air at Seville's Feria de Abril — Four People Injured

Cable Fails Mid-Ride at Seville's Annual Fair

Four people — including two children — were injured on Friday evening when a slingshot fairground ride malfunctioned at Seville's Feria de Abril, one of Spain's most iconic annual festivals.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:20pm on April 25 on Calle del Infierno — the amusement zone within the fairgrounds that hosts the temporary thrill rides that draw crowds throughout the week-long celebration.

What Happened

The ride involved was a Steel Max slingshot — an attraction that propels a passenger capsule upward at high speed. During operation, one of the two side cables holding the capsule came loose. With the cable detached, the capsule swung into the ride's own support structure before coming to a halt suspended above ground.

Two minors were inside the capsule at the moment of failure. Emergency crews — including firefighters, Protección Civil and local police — responded immediately and assisted the passengers once the capsule was brought down.

The Injured

Four people in total sustained injuries:

• The two minors inside the capsule — both transported to a medical centre for evaluation after receiving initial on-site treatment
• Two bystanders nearby who were also affected by the incident

Authorities confirmed that all four injuries were minor, with no severe casualties reported. The swift response of emergency services was credited with preventing more serious harm.

Ride Sealed Off, Investigation Underway

Police launched an inquiry into the cause of the malfunction. Investigators are reviewing maintenance records, safety documentation and the ride itself. Officials had not yet determined at the time of reporting whether the failure was caused by a mechanical fault, a broken cable, or a faulty release mechanism.

The Steel Max attraction was immediately sealed off following the incident, and reopening during the remainder of the Feria de Abril was reported as unlikely.

Context: A Beloved but High-Risk Environment

The Feria de Abril is one of Seville's — and Spain's — most celebrated annual events, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors across its six-day run. Calle del Infierno, whose name translates literally as Hell Street, is the traditional home of the fair's amusement rides and has been a fixture of Sevillano culture for generations.

Temporary fairground rides operate under their own safety certification requirements, and incidents of this kind — while uncommon — serve as a reminder that mechanical components under repeated high-stress use require rigorous ongoing inspection.

This article is based on reporting from Euro Weekly News, published April 25, 2026. Police investigations are ongoing.