Cable cars stall over East River

NEW YORK – Dozens of people in two cable cars were left hanging hundreds of feet above the East River for hours on Tuesday when the system lost power because of a mechanical problem.

Both cars of the Roosevelt Island Tramway, which shuttles commuters and tourists between Manhattan and nearby Roosevelt Island, stalled at about 5:15 p.m., stranding about 70 people, said Herb Berman, president of the agency that operates the system. No injuries were reported.

A slow-moving, diesel-powered rescue gondola that holds about 10 people shuttled up to the cars, and two police officers began plucking passengers from the cars to take them back to the island. Police, who delivered food, water and diapers to the passengers, said the effort would take several hours.

The tramcars – which offer breathtaking views of the city from up to 250 feet – were still stalled after midnight while engineers worked to restore power.

Robbyn Maier said her 12-year-old son, Dax, was going to Roosevelt Island to play tennis when he got stuck. She talked to him by cell phone.

“He’s like a trouper through it all,” she said.

Once safely on the ground, Dax Maier said he told himself not to look down while being rescued. The mood in his car was almost festive, he said, with people singing and telling jokes.

“Sometimes you can find great people in New York,” he said.