Lorraine Williamson
A night at Seville’s Feria de Abril turned frightening after a fairground ride failed mid-operation, leaving four people with minor injuries and prompting a police investigation.
The Seville fair ride accident happened at around 8.20 pm on Friday, April 24, on the Steel Max attraction in the Calle del Infierno, the fair’s large amusement area. Seville emergency services said the ride was sealed off by firefighters after the incident.
Steel Max sealed off after incident
The ride, also known locally as a “tirachinas” or slingshot-style attraction, launches a two-person capsule into the air using tensioned side cables.
Spanish media reported that one of the lateral cables came loose during the ride. The capsule then struck one of the support masts before being left suspended several metres above the ground.
Four people suffered minor injuries. Two were treated at the scene, while two people who had been inside the ride were taken to a health centre for further checks.
Police examine documents as investigation opens
The area around the attraction was cordoned off after the rescue. Protección Civil and local police also attended the scene.
According to Diario de Sevilla, Policía Local reviewed the ride’s paperwork, while Policía Nacional has taken charge of the investigation into what caused the failure.
No serious injuries were reported. Even so, the incident caused alarm among fairgoers, especially after footage of the malfunction began circulating on social media.
A high-profile scare at one of Spain’s biggest fairs
The Feria de Abril is one of Andalucia’s best-known annual events, drawing large crowds to Seville for music, food, dancing, casetas and fairground attractions.
That visibility makes any safety incident especially sensitive. Calle del Infierno is a major part of the fair, with thousands of families and visitors passing through during peak evening hours.
For now, the key questions are technical. Investigators will need to establish whether the failure was mechanical, maintenance-related, or linked to another cause.
Safety checks now under scrutiny
The Steel Max attraction remains closed while checks continue. The wider fair has not been suspended, but the accident is likely to sharpen attention on inspections at temporary amusement sites.
For visitors, the message from authorities is clear: the incident is under investigation, and the ride has been taken out of operation.
The Feria continues, but Friday night’s scare has left a difficult question hanging over one of Spain’s most famous spring celebrations: how did a high-speed ride fail in front of a packed fairground?