The 'Flight of the Gibbon' cable car in Chiang Mai has been closed after three Israeli tourists were injured on Friday. The two adults and a 7-year-old boy crashed into each other and fell hard to the ground.
The boy who suffered a shoulder injury has since been released from hospital. A woman broke a rib and is still in hospital, as is the third injured person.
The police inspected the cable car. The tourist attraction will remain closed for the time being until the accident is investigated. The company has not yet responded.
The attraction consists of a cable stretched above the treetops. Participants can 'float' from one side to the other on the cable car for a spectacular view and an adrenalin rush. The 'Flight of the Gibbon' is the longest, highest and fastest zip line in the world, according to the company. In addition to Chiang Mai, the company also operates this attraction in Chon Buri and Siem Raep and on Koh Phangan. In October last year, a Chinese tourist was killed in a fall.
The company says they work safely, so every day the cableways and equipment are checked and replaced if necessary.
Photo above: the Pongyang zipline in Chiang Mai.
Source: Bangkok Post
We were there ourselves 5 years ago. At the insistence of my youngest daughter, we also did this attraction. It was very good for us. Safety seemed to me to be fine at the time and the instructors/supervisors seemed very competent. They checked the equipment down to the last detail.
That's why I rather believe in an accident, as can happen with most attractions around the world. Unfortunately. Fortunately, there are no deaths here.