Italian cable car plunges to the ground, killing at least 14

Just horrible...

Truly terrifying.

One of my biggest fears. Kept imagining the same thing happening while going up a steep mountain with a big drop near Palm Springs.

This happened a few times before in Italy, why? Scary, sad to die like that, just horrible.

Horrible thing to happen on family trip. RIP.

Terrible. The banner photo contrast between the background beauty and the foreground wreck is horrific.

One of my biggest fears. Kept imagining the same thing happening while going up a steep mountain with a big drop near Palm Springs.

Mine too! I always end up on one too on the windiest of days.

As an avid skier I've always been wondering why those cable cars slide on only a single cable line. What about a double cable line one to move the bloody cable car and the second to support it in the air in case the moving cable breaks? RIP.

Jacobo

How tragic. Very sad story. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those who perished. My prayers go out to the hospitalized children and any other injured survivors.

This happened a few times before in Italy, why?

Not always the fault of the cable car operator. I remember a previous case years ago when a US fighter jet cut the cable, killing many...

Not always the fault of the cable car operator. I remember a previous case years ago when a US fighter jet cut the cable, killing many...

It’s mentioned in the article above that you are commenting on. Always worth a quick read before commenting.

As an avid skier I've always been wondering why those cable cars slide on only a single cable line. What about a double cable line one to move the bloody cable car and the second to support it in the air in case the moving cable breaks? RIP.

Sigh. Please do some research. The Stresa -Mottarone Aerial Tramway used two cables,not one. There is a heavy fixed cable from which the tram hands with wheels riding on the fixed cable, and there is a haulage cable that pulls the car up the hill, or allows it to descend at a controlled speed. You can look at images of the system and see this clearly. When the haulage cable breaks, which is what happened in this instance, brakes on the cable car should automatically stop if from rolling down the cable uncontrolled. That didn't happen in this instance. The tram car slid down the fixed cable and struck the uppermost pylon after which if flipped off the fixed cable and tumbled down the mountainside. Why the haulage cable broke and why the brakes did not apply will be subjects of a detailed investigation.

Ooops, the tram "hangs", not hands. Apologies for the gaff.