A piece of metal and Rita!

Apparently a piece of metal flew off Rita at Alton Towers today and nearly hit a girl in the queue below. It flew off the ride when it was traversing the first airtime hill. I was just wondering does anyone have any info on this. Anyone know what could have happened? I will post any news i find! The ride is closed at the moment apparently.

relly?
damn.
that shouldn't happen, especially not on such a new coaster.
hope for more news...

May have been part of the track sensor as shown above, although i would expect it would have been more firmly in place

Yes it probably was that, i mean the ride carried on i think as it should, it didnt stall, or slow down or anything, so maybe it was the track sensor.

Typical high quality Intamin product... meaning poop.

Rita is now back open ready for any visits.

yay, now that is extremely good news [:D]

Any word on the girl hit in the queue? Or are you all focused on the least important thing ... the fact that Rita is open again?

I care more about one of the best coasters ive ever ridden than about some girl ive never met who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time

She wasnt hit, she was nearly hit. [:D]

There is a net under the first hill to protect the queue line from falling objects

Whats a Hydralic Coaster without pieces of metal flying at the guests

Originally posted by The Edge

I care more about one of the best coasters ive ever ridden than about some girl ive never met who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time

yes, yes -- damn her for being in the queue where you could have been standing ... (kidding)
... by the way in case I forgot to mention, your footage of Rita is spectacular man!

Originally posted by RollerC

Whats a Hydralic Coaster without pieces of metal flying at the guests

Sho 'nuff.

I prefer to have a Goodyear tire going 120mph fly at me.

Tell that to the person who was hit by one of the wheels from Steel Dragon 2000 when it crashed last year