Tiger Sky Tower malfunction: Investigation report due by end August

SINGAPORE – The operator of the Tiger Sky Tower ride, Sky Tower Pte Ltd, is required to appoint a specialist professional engineer (SPE) to investigate the cause of last Saturday’s malfunction and submit an investigation report by the end of August, said the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). 

A mechanical fault in the tourist attraction in Sentosa had caused 39 passengers to be stranded in mid-air for more than four hours before the ride could be lowered and they could disembark.

The ride has been suspended since the incident. 

In a statement on Monday (Aug 14), the BCA added that the SPE will have to inspect the ride after the repair works, conduct functional tests, and submit a report by the middle of September to seek BCA’s consent before resuming operations. 

The operator is also required to carry out necessary repairs as recommended by the SPE. 

The incident, which began at 5.35pm last Saturday, saw the operator trying to evacuate the guests by lowering the gondola. After the malfunction persisted for another 90 minutes, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was called in for assistance.

The passengers finally disembarked at about 9.45pm.

In response to media queries, director of Sky Tower Pte Ltd Mr Alexander Melchers said the ride will reopen once “the investigation is concluded and ... approved by the BCA for safe operations”. 

Guests who hold tickets to the ride, bought on or before Saturday, can get a full refund at any Sentosa ticketing counter.

They can also use it to visit other attractions in Sentosa, including the Merlion; one ride on the 4D AdventureLand; or the skyride at Skyline Luge Sentosa.