Thanks to movies like Final Destination, there’s always something gnawing at the back of your head that something might go wrong, especially in places like theme park rides. Well, something did go wrong. A routine day at a Texas theme park turned into a nerve-racking experience after a power outage forced dozens of riders to climb down emergency staircases from towering roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas over the weekend. Thankfully, no one was harmed, physically at least.
Videos circulating across TikTok and X showed guests slowly descending narrow metal stairs attached to massive rides, including the park’s towering Titan coaster, after the sudden outage shut down attractions mid-ride on Saturday, May 16. The incident quickly sparked viral reactions online, with many viewers calling the footage “nightmare fuel” for anyone afraid of heights.
“Imagine being the guy afraid of heights,” one X user wrote as clips of stranded riders spread online. According to park spokesperson Cyle Perez, the outage happened after an external construction crew accidentally struck an underground power line, temporarily cutting electricity across the park. While no injuries were reported, multiple rides stopped operating immediately, leaving passengers stranded high above the ground until park staff escorted them to safety.
One of the most widely shared videos showed riders evacuating The Titan, a steel hypercoaster that rises roughly 245 feet and reaches speeds of 85 mph. The affected guests were seen carefully descending long maintenance staircases while employees guided them down in single file.
People online noped out
For many viewers, the evacuation itself looked more terrifying than the ride. “I cried the whole way down the stairs,” TikTok user Jamoi James wrote after revealing they had boarded The Titan specifically to confront a fear of roller coasters. Others online admitted they would have refused to move at all.
“There would be no way to get me out of my seat,” one commenter wrote, while another joked that they would “wait six hours” for the electricity to return rather than walk down the structure. Despite the panic online, Six Flags officials emphasized that all evacuation procedures were carried out safely and according to protocol. Moreover, guests affected by the outage reportedly received complimentary return tickets after being escorted off the rides.
The park later restored power and remained open until its scheduled 9 PM closing time. Operations also resumed normally the following day as the park continued preparations for its ongoing 65th anniversary celebrations. Still, the theme park viral footage reignited a common fear shared by thrill-seekers everywhere: not the roller coaster itself, but the possibility of getting stuck at the very top.
