All 21 people who were trapped in New Mexico tramway overnight have been rescued

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Officials have rescued 21 people who were trapped on the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque, New Mexico for more than 12 hours during icy conditions Friday night.

The Bernalillo County Fire Department received a call around 2 a.m. to assist in search and rescue efforts, after a tram got stuck while traveling down the tramline, Deputy Chief of Operations Brian Rose said in a news conference Saturday.

"We are happy to report that at this time all people needing rescue from the Tram cars have been rescued and are safely at base," the Bernalillo County Fire Department said on Twitter. "We still have rescue personnel on the mountain who are hiking out due to difficulty in making access with the helicopter. We will update when all clear."

The passengers were trapped in the carriages midair when two tram cars became stuck due to moisture and winds causing ice to form on the tramline, Sandia Peak Tramway General Manager Michael Donovan told KRQE.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/at-least-20-people-who-were-trapped-in-new-mexico-tramway-overnight-have-been-rescued/ar-AASlgfk

[Beartracks]

1. The tram runs that late?

[Beartracks]

4. Oh, never mind -- it was mainly employees leaving after closing time.

[viva la]

2. A nightmare.

I've driven by that tramway and always thought it looked like my idea of a torture chamber, LOL.

[Kali]

3. yikes!

[NJCher]

5. I read the story for how they kept warm

and short answer is they didn't. It must have been miserably cold there that entire time, because what caused the tram to be unable to operate is the rain turning to ice.

There's a Facebook link to pictures of the tram in the snow and ice and also the people trapped on it, trying to keep warm.

[abqtommy]

6. I live here and I was unaware of this. I'm not surprised, though. On Friday the overcast

was settled at around 6,000 feet elevation and it was cold. (Bear in mind that the
lowest elevation for Albuquerque is 5,000 feet and the Sandia Peaks top out at around
7,000 feet and they were totally obscured all day. Yeah, not good conditions for tram
operation!

[Bayard]

7. Hey--I've been on that tram

On vacation in NM. Loved it. Super hot down below, but when we got to the top, was wishing I'd brought a jacket.

Poor passengers!