A dozen riders were stuck for more than two hours Sunday afternoon near the top of the new Superman Ultimate Flight roller coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom before they were lowered safely to the ground.

The riders had been stuck on the ride in an upright position for nearly an hour before the Vallejo fire department was called, one onlooker said. Another said the ride had been closed at least temporarily for maintenance on Friday.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21187193/riders-stranded-vallejo-superman-roller-coaster?source=most_viewed

Gosh. What is it with parks this year? Excessive downtime for signature attractions, Mäch Tower, Verbolten, now Superman. This doesn't spell anything good for both Six Flags and Premier.

Gosh. What is it with parks this year? Excessive downtime for signature attractions, Mäch Tower, Verbolten, now Superman. This doesn't spell anything good for both Six Flags and Premier.

Is this sarcasm? I honestly can't tell.

Nope. Genuine statement. It seems that amusement parks are all over the news this year with ride breakdowns, ride malfunctions, etc. I haven't really heard much good in the news.

anything mechanical can and will break down and amusement park rides are no exception. You can maintain your car by changing its oil, tire pressure and rotation, ect and it will break down when you least expect it.

Nope. Genuine statement. It seems that amusement parks are all over the news this year with ride breakdowns, ride malfunctions, etc. I haven't really heard much good in the news.

Or is it in the past these things happend more often than many believed, but with the: news, pictures, video, literally being a click away combined with news sources begging for "dramatic" stories, these breakdowns are being forced down our throats?

What should be noted is that all safety procedures were followed, and guests were not injured- only inconvenienced.

UPDATE: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21192654/park-no-mechanical-issues-vallejo-coaster-stall

At least this article mentions no riders were injured.

The riders had been stuck on the ride in an upright position for nearly an hour before the Vallejo fire department was called.

Before? Why would they wait so long to call?

I'm puzzled as to why it got stuck and they couldn't seem to free it.

The riders had been stuck on the ride in an upright position for nearly an hour before the Vallejo fire department was called.

Before? Why would they wait so long to call?

It's a news article.

Facts of the story can be exaggerated for a dramatic feel.

most likely they were stuck for an hour before the fire department arrived. Ride becomes stuck, Maintence is called (5-10 mins). Maintence can not figure out ride problem (25-35 mins post "accident"). Fire department arrives (45-60 mins post "accident).

Ride still closed:

Cal-OSHA spokeswoman Patricia Ortiz said investigators were at the amusement park Sunday and were there Tuesday to make mechanical inspections.

There is no preliminary indication why the ride stopped around 3 p.m., Ortiz said.

Cal-OSHA engineers checked the ride before it opened in June and instructed Six Flags to train personnel and members of the Vallejo Fire Department on an emergency plan to how to evacuate the ride, Ortiz said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21203633/vallejo-superman-roller-coaster-remains-closed-while-crews

In an attept not to assume, it's too bad the article does not clarify that the park does/ does not have a crane.

The amusement park also was required to have a crane capable of reaching the top of the ride on site, Ortiz said.

An "ah ha" moment:

Park spokeswoman Nancy Chan says engineers determined the July 29 stall was caused by insufficient power to the coaster's launch system. The problem has been corrected.

http://www.ktvn.com/story/19206763/calif-roller-coaster-back-in-service-after-stall