Melbourne Star Observation Wheel pod fails to keep level, says family - Herald Sun

Cabin eight on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Source: News Limited

A POD on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel was repeatedly allowed to swing on its moorings after a mechanical levelling system used to keep cabins parallel to the ground failed, a passenger has claimed.

The wheel's operators have repeatedly refused to say what caused two incidents last week where frightened passengers reported their cabins tilted and swung, but the Herald Sun can reveal both incidents involved a similar problem with the same pod - cabin eight.

A second traumatised family came forward to describe their horror as their cabin "jolted and jerked" 100m up as gravity was used to bring it back parallel to the ground after it began tilting when the levelling system apparently failed.

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Aaron, who asked not to be further identified, contacted the Herald Sun after the operators' denials that pods could tilt, rock or swing as described.

The family were in pod eight when the wheel stopped for about 15 minutes at 3.30pm on Saturday.

"We had been on the wheel for perhaps 16 minutes when the problem became frightfully apparent and the wheel was stopped, with us on an angle, situated at 10 or 2 if you look at the face of a clock."

Aaron, who has a background in mechanical engineering and occupational health and safety, said the operators had told them what was happening on the emergency intercom, although that was difficult to hear above the loud commentary about Melbourne that continued to play.

Sandringham mother Janine was also incensed when the operators said her claim that pod eight had "rocked and tilted" about five minutes into their family's ride on Christmas Day was not possible.

"They're lying, it did occur," she told the Herald Sun.

The operators yesterday refused to say if cabin eight remained in service, or whether it had been serviced between the two incidents.

Wheel chief executive Chris Kelly would say only: "Melbourne Star has welcomed in excess of 12,000 visitors since opening on December 23, 2013 and of the approximately 4030 individual cabin flights taken since opening, early warning alerts have been received on only two individual cabin flights."

peter.mickelburough@news.com.au