The Melbourne Star was stopped for about 15 minutes on Saturday after a "technical" problem was discovered. Source: News Limited
A bird-shaped crack was found on a pod window. Source: HeraldSun
PASSENGERS fear bolts or other pieces are falling off the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel after discovering a crack on a pod window.
But operators believe the crack was caused by a bird flying into the glass.
"It looked as if something hard had fallen on it from the outside," passenger Marco Bresciani said.
"It could have been a loose bolt or something, I don't know. It could be a symptom of something loose in the structure. It could be a symptom of something much worse."
Mr Bresciani said the bird-shaped crack appeared to have penetrated the full thickness of the glass at its centre, with "tentacles" about the diameter of two 50c coins branching out.
It is the second incident to beset the trouble-plagued wheel since it reopened just before Christmas.
Mr Bresciani contacted the H erald Sun on Sunday after the operators refused to disclose details of a "technical" problem that had caused the fully laden wheel to stop for about 15 minutes at 3.30pm on Saturday.
He said he had been on the wheel with family two days earlier, on Boxing Day about 9pm, when he discovered a crack in the glass of cabin 20.
"We didn't hear anything happen so it's unlikely it happened while we were on there," he said.
Mr Bresciani said the crack could have been a "precursor" or sign of the later problem and was critical of the operators for not explaining what caused that incident.
"It makes it worse for themselves (if they say nothing) because then people use their imagination (when) it could be something simple."
Mr Bresciani said he reported the crack to staff when he got out.
"One of the attendants got in, looked at it and he looked worried and got a few others to come and have a look at it as well," he said.
He said he left the wheel while the window was being inspected and noticed the wheel stopped for several minutes before restarting.
Melbourne Star CEO Chris Kelly said he believed the "very minor cosmetic issue" was caused by a bird strike and the cabin was immediately taken out of service.
"The glass has been inspected and our advice is that it is cosmetic and doesn't present any safety issues. It is in the process of being repaired," Mr Kelly said.
"Bird strikes are not uncommon on high-rise structures (including the world's two other giant observation wheels). Unfortunately, large and bulky vertical structures like ours can present an obstacle for some birds in flight."
Mr Kelly said the wheel had a complex engineering and technical structure similar to that of an aircraft.
He apologised "when our guests are inconvenienced if we occasionally have to put in place precautionary measures", saying passengers' safety was taken very seriously.
Originally known as the Southern Star Observation Wheel, it was dismantled 40 days after opening in February 2009 because of cracks caused by extreme heat.
peter.mickelburough@news.com.au
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