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Helicopter Operation Frees 19 Stranded Cable Car Passengers in Dornbirn

Emergency crews used a helicopter to lower rescuers into a derailed gondola to bring everyone to safety following a sudden wind gust.

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Overview

  • A fierce wind gust around 15:00 UTC on June 23 displaced both carrying and hauling cables of the Karrenseilbahn about 200 meters below the mountain station.
  • The gondola carrying 19 passengers and a dog hung 60 to 80 meters above the ground after the cables derailed and blocked standard rescue gondolas from reaching it.
  • Stadt Dornbirn officials reported that rescue teams began preparing a helicopter deployment at 17:30 UTC to evaluate the safest extraction method.
  • Helicopter crews abseiled emergency personnel onto the cabin and evacuated all occupants over a challenging four-hour operation.
  • Local authorities said the passengers stayed composed throughout the ordeal and highlighted the incident’s reminder of the importance of emergency response planning during severe weather.