Video Captures the Frightening Moment a Wire Snapped on a Slingshot-Style Ride, Leaving Two Teen Riders With Minor Injuries

In what might be many people’s worst nightmare, a ride malfunction at the Western Playland amusement park in Sunland Park, N.M., left two teen riders with minor injuries. The pair was on the Southwest Slinger, a slingshot-style ride, when one of the wires attached to the car seemed to snap. The Sunland Park Fire Department responded to the incident.

A bystander happened to capture the frightening moment and some of the aftermath on video.

The Real FitFam El Paso shared the video on their Facebook page with the caption, “Nightmare fuel. Tonight at Western Playland, the ‘Southwest Slinger’ slingshot-style ride’s high-tension bungee cord snapped with two riders strapped in.”

What Happened?

The Southwest Slinger is a ride that slings riders up into the sky in a matter of seconds. The video of the incident with the two teens shows the ride coming back down from its catapult when the wire appears to snap. The area where riders sit was then left dangling at a sideways angle from the remaining wire.

The video also shows someone climbing onto one of the two side poles of the ride (where the wires attach) after the incident. They appear to be speaking to the two teen riders. Later in the video, two people who appear to be older teens leave the ride area.

According to a statement from the Sunland Park Fire Department, the pair reported minor injuries but refused transport to the hospital.

Facebook commenters had a range of responses to the video, from wondering when Western Playland can expect a lawsuit to breathing a sigh of relief that they didn’t go on the same ride while at the park.

What Was Western Playland’s Response?

Western Playland confirmed the incident and shared a statement on the matter with local news outlets KTSM 9 and KOAT Action 7 News.

The statement read, in part, “The initial review indicates that the ride was operating within normal parameters and in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines at the time. All required inspections are current for this ride and all other rides at Western Playland. The Southwest Slinger was immediately taken out of operation as a precaution and will remain closed while a thorough review is performed with all appropriate manufacturing partners.”

This also isn’t Western Playland’s first mishap this season. In May 2026, fallout from a permitted fireworks show that the park put on caused a significant brush fire that required the Sunland Park Fire Department to call in help from three other fire departments. Luckily, no injuries or structural damage occurred.

(feature image: Western Playland)

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