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Sky Flyer ride that injured people at Jacksonville fair had 5 prior violations in 2018

Ride ordered to 'stop operating' just days before malfunction at Jacksonville Fair.

The Sky Flyer ride blamed for injuring several Jacksonville Fair-goers saw a spike in Florida violations in 2018.

According to state inspection reports, broken restraints, frayed cables, and tangled chains are among the 7 problematic inspections in Florida. Five of those inspections with issues happened in 2018.

UPDATE: Multiple people injured at Jacksonville Fair after 'Sky Flyer' malfunctions

About 20 people were on the Sky Flyer on November 10 when the ride malfunctioned and injured multiple passengers.

The parent of a 9-year-old on the ride reported hearing terrifying screams and seeing the swings chairs slam into the guardrails and then into each other.

The Sky Flyer is owned by Midway Rides of Utica. The most recent inspection report obtained by First Coast News from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services happened on Oct. 11.

An inspector in West Palm Beach found the restraints were broken on the high flying swing ride and issued a 'stop operation' order. The deficiencies on the inspection report were fixed 16 days later on Oct. 27.

Jacksonville Fair Vice President of Marketing Gayle Hart confirmed the Sky Flyer passed inspection on October 31 before their opening day.

In February, the Sky Flyer was grounded for a broken and frayed lift cable, according to an inspection report. The ride cleared the Pompano Beach inspection two days later.

Locks on the lap bar of three Sky Flyer seats were identified as broken in Pembroke Pines during a January 26 inspection. A month earlier in December, the stairs on and off the ride were deemed broken. An inspector did not order a 'stop operation' in January or December according to the reports.

The Department of Agriculture had no record of accident reports on the Sky Flyer going back to 2012.

The Nov. 10 accident causing injuries at the Jacksonville Fair remains under investigation.

MIDWAY-Sky Flyer[102419] Florida Inspection Reports 2012 to 2018 by Julia Jenae on Scribd

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