On August 1, a serious incident occurred at an amusement park in Saudi Arabia when a pendulum ride suddenly collapsed while it was in operation, injuring at least 20 people. This prompted deep reflection in the amusement park industry on the importance of quality and service.
It should be clearly understood: modern attractions that meet international standards have a high degree of reliability. According to the latest report of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) for 2025:
"The chance of a serious injury on a park's stationary ride is only one in 15,5 million rides."
This confirms the industry's basic safety record and highlights the exceptional nature of this incident - when standard quality control and maintenance processes are disrupted, rare events can have tragic consequences.
Incident Review: 360° Pendulum Ride in Saudi Arabia Suddenly Collapses, 23 People Seriously Injured
Key facts of the incident (sources: ABC News, USA Today, Arab News and others)
- Time: evening of August 1, 2025
- Location: Qiddiya Park, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
- Type of equipment: 360° pendulum attraction, arm length - 32 meters, full load - 24 passengers
- Manufacturer: Italian amusement ride manufacturer (specific name not given in news)
- Effects: According to official data, there were no fatalities, at least 20 people were injured (according to Arab News on August 3, 2025); the victims were taken to hospital with injuries from impact and compression, three are in serious condition.
Accident progression:
| Disclosed technical features | Technical reasons for analysis |
|---|---|
| Abnormal metallic grinding noise heard during startup (eyewitness report, ABC7) | Bearing lubrication failure or structural deformation |
| At a height of 38 meters, the connection between the main boom and the rotating base breaks down (video analysis, ABC News) | Accumulated fatigue cracks in load-bearing units |
| Capsule with passengers falls and hits structure (video analysis, ABC News) | The emergency braking system did not work |
| Secondary collapse causes hydraulic pipes to rupture (video analysis, ABC News) | Lack of a backup structural element |
Analysis of the key issues of this incident
As a specialist with 20 years of experience in the design and production of amusement rides, after reviewing the video footage of the incident, I present a professional analysis of the possible causes of the accident:
The rupture occurred at the junction of the cabin with the large boom, closer to the main shaft.
Reason for breakup:
It has been preliminarily established that the main cause was the bending moment that occurs during the rotational movement of the boom with the cabin.
During operation, the main shaft drives a large boom. The boom experiences not only tensile forces but also periodic bending moments. The closer the boom section is to the axis of rotation, the greater the bending moment and, consequently, the stress on the metal.
There were two main reasons that led to the destruction:
Underestimation of the instantaneous bending loads generated by equipment operation. Insufficient boom structural strength or imperfect welding techniques could have led to the formation of fatigue cracks under prolonged cyclic loads, ultimately causing failure and an accident.
Insufficient operational controls and weak government oversight. Cheap, low-quality, used, and refurbished amusement rides continue to enter the market, disrupting order and creating serious safety risks. Furthermore, regular maintenance and equipment inspections are often carried out perfunctorily or in violation of regulations, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.
"When maintenance costs are sacrificed for profits, the countdown to disaster begins."
How BESTON RIDES ensures passenger safety on its 360° pendulum ride
As a manufacturer with decades of experience in the amusement ride industry, BESTON RIDES always puts visitor safety first. The 360° pendulum ride has been thoroughly reinforced in its design, production, and passenger safety systems—from the overall structure to every detail—ensuring the stable operation of the equipment and the safety of every rider.
I. Structural reliability: strengthening of the boom and overall stability
① High-strength main structure
The pendulum ride, developed independently by BESTON RIDES, features a boom constructed from 12mm-thick seamless steel tube with an outside diameter of 426mm. The boom is a single piece, without welds, effectively preventing stress concentration and significantly increasing metal fatigue resistance. The main rotating shaft is made from 12mm-thick seamless tube with a diameter of 610mm, ensuring overall load-bearing strength and operational stability.
② Increased safety factor
The coverage of the main reinforcing ribs at the passenger end of the boom reaches 50%, increasing its resistance to torsion and bending. During the design process, the estimated load per seat was set at 100 kg (compared to the standard 75 kg). Even with a full load of 16 seats, the safety factor remains greater than 5, ensuring a sufficient safety margin under all operating conditions.
③ Scientific calculations and modeling
The design underwent multiple finite element analysis (FEA) optimization cycles, which calculated load points, stress distribution, and material fatigue life. This ensures that every element meets international safety standards.
④ Strict production and quality control system
BESTON RIDES' production process complies with state standards and includes material control, process accounting, and quality assurance at every stage. The company eliminates the use of substandard materials, guaranteeing the reliability of every installation.
II. Ensuring Passenger Safety: A Four-Level Security System
- Four-point seat belt – provides complete support for the passenger’s body and further enhances safety.
- Chest-abdominal pressure retainer - anatomically adapted, provides basic physical protection.
- An auxiliary seat belt with a locking mechanism creates a second independent level of protection.
- Double ratchet locking system prevents the latch from loosening or returning accidentally while the ride is in operation.
The four-layer protection system works together to ensure that even during high-speed rotations and rolls, passengers remain in a completely stable and safe position.
Industry Alert: Double Defense - Quality and Maintenance
Manufacturer's responsibility: full control throughout the entire life cycle
Choice of materials: use of aircraft grade titanium alloys or high strength stainless steel with a tensile strength greater than 800 MPa (industry standard is 500 MPa)
Backup design: installation of redundant support structures and real-time stress monitoring systems (e.g. Beston Rides' patented "double insurance" technology)
Tested in extreme conditions: modeling temperatures from -50°C to +50°C, corrosive environments and impact loads 10 times higher than standard.
Operator Responsibilities: Implementation of regular maintenance
Internet of Things (IoT): installation of sensors to monitor bearing temperature, vibration frequency and other parameters, which helps prevent possible malfunctions.
Periodic Maintenance: Daily visual inspection, weekly mechanical calibration, annual third party certification in strict compliance with regulations.
Personnel training: Regular emergency response training to ensure that the operator can activate emergency braking within 30 seconds.
Beston Rides Promise: Zero Tolerance Safety and Security
As an international amusement ride manufacturer With 20 years of experience, we confirm our responsibility to the industry:
“True safety is not a certification sticker on the equipment, but a sense of responsibility within the manufacturer.” — Chief Safety Officer at Beston Rides
1. Quality control throughout the entire life cycle
Certification: 100% compliance with China, EU (EN), USA (ASTM), Russia and other standards.
Manufacturing: 100% non-destructive testing of critical components (e.g. ultrasonic testing).
Pre-shipment testing: load tests on all seats with a weight of 100 kg (standard 75 kg) for more than 80 hours.
2. Intelligent maintenance system
Vibration sensors: automatic alert for fatigue damage.
Online monitoring of hydraulic system pressure.
Automatic self-test at power-on, blocking faulty devices.
3. Global technical support
Annual in-depth service programs: Certified engineers disassemble and inspect major components (e.g. main axles, welds).
Free Maintenance Knowledge Base: Provides step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting common problems.
Call to Action: Together, Let's Create a Safe Theme Park Ecosystem
We call on all partners around the world:
- ✅ Immediately begin structural inspections of all rides that are more than 5 years old.
- ✅ Invest in predictive maintenance technologies to replace reactive repairs.
- ✅ Ensure transparency: publish your technical inspection history to regain visitors' trust.
Conclusion: A sincere commitment to safety is the key to every visitor's carefree joy
The Saudi Arabia ride incident was a painful reminder for the industry: even a low-probability risk, if ignored, can have irreversible consequences. Safety is not an outcome, but an ongoing process that requires attention at every stage – from design and manufacturing to maintenance and operations.
Beston Rides will continue to strive for the goal of "zero accidents" by collaborating with global partners to promote quality standards, implement intelligent service systems, and create a safer, more transparent, and more sustainable amusement ride ecosystem. We believe that only by making safety a part of our core can we truly bring joy to people without fear.
