Technical Malfunction on Wiesn Carousel: Ride Back in Operation After Clearance

Sequence of Events and Initial Response

Following the incident, the carousel was immediately shut down. The manufacturer NIB as well as TÜV were brought in to inspect the technology and the safety equipment of the ride. Only after this inspection was completed and a corresponding expert report was available was the ride permitted to resume operations.

The responsible authorities in Munich evaluated the technical documentation as well as the records of past maintenance. In addition, the carousel was subjected to a functional test before being reopened. Only once all requirements had been met did the supervisory authorities grant clearance.

Inspection and Clearance by TÜV

According to the city and the operator, special safety standards apply to the Oktoberfest in Munich. Rides must be inspected regularly before and during the Wiesn; TÜV serves as the central inspection body. In the event of irregularities that call safe operation into question, operation would be prohibited immediately, according to the city.

Following the clearance, the carousel is now running again in regular operation. The Oktoberfest is once again expected to draw millions of visitors from Germany and abroad this year, according to the organizers' estimates. Those responsible announced that the technical processes on the affected ride would continue to be monitored and that routine inspections would be intensified.

Safety Standards on the Wiesn

The incident is part of a series of incidents at folk festivals that have sparked debate across Germany in recent years about the safety of rides. The German Showmen's Association and TÜV had already recommended stricter inspection intervals following similar incidents.

Sources from the festival management said the incident is being taken very seriously and that they are in close contact with the manufacturer, TÜV, and the safety authorities. Should a technical defect be confirmed as the cause in the course of further evaluation, the corresponding details would be forwarded to the responsible supervisory bodies. Other carousels on the Wiesn would also be checked on a precautionary, random basis.

Reactions on Social Media

Visitors had described the incident on social media and posted videos showing passengers hanging upside down in the gondolas. The Wiesn security service pointed out that such impressions could be unsettling, but emphasized at the same time that rescue and security personnel had been on site quickly.

Speaking to BR24, a spokesperson for the Wiesn security service explained that those affected had been attended to immediately after the stop. "We were lucky that there were no injuries," the spokesperson said. For the coming days of the Wiesn, the festival management announced additional visual inspections of the affected components of the carousel.