Fantasiana amusement park staff face charges after tower accident

Two technicians are facing legal action following a serious accident at the Fantasiana amusement park in Straßwalchen, near Salzburg, Austria. The incident occurred on August 6, 2024, involving the Knights Ride Tower, a 20-meter-high freefall attraction.

During maintenance work to resolve a technical issue, the technicians became trapped when a gondola moved upward, pinning their legs at a height of seven meters. Both men sustained severe injuries. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the technicians are being charged with causing serious bodily harm to one another through negligence. The prosecution alleges that the men failed to follow safety manuals by entering a danger zone while restarting the attraction in automatic mode.

In addition to the technicians, two park directors and the company itself are facing prosecution. The charges against the management focus on inadequate training, alleging that the technicians were permitted to perform maintenance tasks for which they were insufficiently qualified, thereby violating employee protection obligations. Defense lawyers for Fantasiana management have pointed to human error on the part of the technicians.