SAM Magazine—Newry, Maine, Feb. 25, 2022—A strong wind gust caused a gondola cabin to misfeed into the top terminal and detach from the haul rope of the Chondola lift at Sunday River, Maine, at 5:37 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23. The cabin fell approximately 10 feet to the ground. The 17-year-old guest inside sustained minor injuries, and was released to a parent after being transported to the base and assessed by ski patrol. 

The Chondola—a combo lift with a mix of six-passenger chairs and eight-passenger gondola cabins—serves Sunday River’s North Peak area. It was open for night skiing, but had stopped loading due to increasing winds and was running at half-speed to clear the line when the incident occurred. 

A spokesperson said the lift was stopped for about 25 minutes after the cabin detached. The four remaining guests on the line, who were riding together in another gondola cabin nearing the upper terminal, were safely unloaded when the lift restarted at slow speed. The lift closed and night skiing operations were suspended.

The damaged gondola cabin was transported to the resort’s maintenance facility for inspection. The Chondola will remain closed until an investigation into the incident is complete.