A 61-year-old woman has died after a ski gondola detached from its cable and plunged down a snowy mountainside at Engelberg ski resort in the Swiss Alps, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The accident occurred late in the morning at approximately 11:00 local time, when the gondola, part of the Titlis Xpress system, suddenly became detached for reasons that remain unclear.
According to police in the canton of Nidwalden, the gondola had just departed from the Trübsee station and was ascending the middle section of Mt Titlis when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses reported extreme weather conditions at the time, with powerful wind gusts battering the region. One skier described the winds as “extremely strong,” noting that the gondolas were visibly swaying.
Authorities later confirmed that gusts exceeded 80 km/h (50 mph), well above the usual safety threshold of 60 km/h for gondola operations.
Dramatic footage circulating on social media shows the gondola tumbling violently down the mountainside, flipping multiple times before finally coming to a halt in deep snow.
The victim, who was alone inside the cabin, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials later identified her as a 61-year-old local resident.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the crash. Teams from air rescue services, ambulances, and local police were deployed to the remote and snow-covered site. Additional footage showed rescuers navigating difficult terrain to reach the wreckage.
The accident prompted the immediate suspension of the cable car service. According to Swiss public broadcaster SRF, between 100 and 200 passengers were safely evacuated from approximately 40 gondolas stranded along the route.
Witnesses described scenes of fear and shock following the incident. A skier recounted how his mother noticed the falling gondola moments before impact, describing the horrifying sight and sound.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Beren Akkaya, who was attending a nearby ski camp, said the icident left many children shaken and afraid to use the gondola again.
Officials have launched a full investigation into the cause of the accident, focusing on both weather conditions and possible technical failures. While strong winds are believed to have played a significant role, authorities have not ruled out other contributing factors.
The operators of the ski lift system expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. Norbert Patt, director of the lift company, said the organization was “shocked” by the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about safety measures at high-altitude tourist destinations, particularly in extreme weather conditions common in the Swiss Alps.