A family of four in India endured a frightening three-hour ordeal after becoming trapped on a sky dining attraction suspended more than 125 feet above the ground. Fire crews in Kerala’s Idukki district were dispatched Friday afternoon after the floating restaurant platform froze midair due to what officials described as a hydraulic malfunction.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. local time, according to reports from Indian news outlets. The malfunction left a family from Mangalapuram – identified as Muhammed Safwan, 31, his wife Thoufeena, 25, and their two young children, including a two-year-old – stranded alongside a 28-year-old staff member named Haripriya. The platform, operated by Southern Skies Aerodynamic, had been hoisted high above the scenic village of Anachal when its systems suddenly failed.
Videos posted by Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan show firefighters climbing the crane structure, securing each stranded person with safety harnesses, and lowering them to the ground one by one using ropes. A rescue team on the ground held a safety net in place as a precaution while the delicate operation unfolded.
By 4:30 p.m., all five individuals had been brought down safely. In the footage, rescuers can be seen carefully lowering the children first, followed by their parents and the employee. The Chief Minister later praised the operation, calling it “a mission that lasted hours” and applauding the Munnar fire crew for their professionalism.
Local reports suggest the attraction may have been operating without proper authorization. The Hindu noted that the business was found to lack the required civic license and has since been issued a stop memo. Police have also filed a case against the operators, citing charges of endangering human life and creating a public safety hazard.
Metro reported that the restaurant’s management allegedly did not alert authorities immediately, claiming instead that their staff were trained to handle emergencies. Southern Skies Aerodynamic has not publicly commented.
Sky dining experiences have grown increasingly popular in India, offering crane-lifted meals hundreds of feet in the air. But Friday’s incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of safety standards and regulatory oversight at such attractions.
Chief Minister Vijayan said he was relieved the outcome was positive. “Those trapped were brought safely down,” he wrote, adding that the rescue team’s effort deserved “special praise.”
