Two riders were taken to a health center after the Steel Max attraction failed during operation.
SEVILLE, SPAIN — Four people were hurt after a cable snapped on a slingshot-style ride at Seville’s April Fair, sending a two-seat capsule into the ride’s support structure during a busy Friday night at the fairgrounds.
The accident drew wide attention after video showed the Steel Max attraction malfunctioning during operation. Local emergency officials said the injuries were mild, but the scene prompted a rescue response from firefighters, Civil Protection workers and police. The ride was sealed off while authorities began checking documents and investigating what caused the failure.
The incident happened about 8:20 p.m. April 24 in the Calle del Infierno, the amusement ride area tied to the Feria de Abril de Sevilla. Video from the fair showed the capsule launching upward before one of the cables appeared to fail. The capsule then swung hard into part of the metal frame as people nearby screamed and moved away from the ride. Emergencies Sevilla said firefighters cordoned off the Steel Max attraction after the accident and that “four people were slightly injured” and treated at the scene.
Two of the injured people were inside the capsule and were later taken to a health center, city emergency officials said. Spanish reports identified the riders as minors, though authorities did not release their names. Two other people near the ride were also hurt, according to local reports, after the malfunction sent debris or parts of the structure toward the ground. Officials described all four injuries as minor. It was not immediately clear whether the riders were struck by the capsule’s movement, the impact with the support, or both.
The Steel Max is a bungee-style fair attraction known as a giant slingshot. It uses tensioned cables to launch a small capsule upward before the riders swing and bounce back toward the ground. At the Seville fair, the ride stood among other temporary attractions in the Calle del Infierno, a large midway set apart from the fair’s casetas, music and food areas. The April Fair is one of Seville’s best-known annual events and draws large crowds to the Los Remedios fairgrounds each spring.
After the rescue, firefighters secured the attraction and kept people away from the area. Local Police inspected the ride’s paperwork, while Spain’s National Police took charge of the investigation, according to emergency officials and Spanish news reports. Investigators were expected to examine the broken cable, the ride’s assembly and maintenance records, and any inspection documents tied to the fair. Authorities had not announced criminal charges or a final cause of the malfunction as of Friday.
The video spread quickly on social media and Spanish television, showing the sudden shift from a bright fairground ride to a crowd reacting in alarm. Witnesses nearby could be heard shouting as the capsule jolted against the frame. Emergency crews then moved in to treat the injured and secure the site. Local reports said the attraction remained closed after the accident while officials reviewed the scene and the ride’s technical records.
The fair continued as investigators worked through the cause of the Steel Max failure. The next public milestone is any finding from police or city officials on whether the accident was caused by equipment failure, assembly problems, maintenance issues or another factor.
Author note: Last updated May 22, 2026.