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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Malfunction closes Kingda Ka coaster

Associated Press

JACKSON, N.J. – A roller coaster billed as the world’s fastest will remain shut down for several weeks while officials at Six Flags Great Adventure try to determine what caused a malfunction during a test.

The heavily promoted Kingda Ka has been closed since June 8. The malfunction occurred during a test, when no one was aboard.

Park officials later determined that a piece of liner covering an area under the coaster’s tracks had dislodged and “damaged a number of other parts,” spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher told the Asbury Park Press.

“A few parts did come loose and landed in the area immediately around the track,” she said. “No guests were in this area.”

Siebeneicher said the park is trying to identify the problem to make sure it does not recur and has ordered replacement parts from the 456-foot-tall coaster’s manufacturer.

Great Adventure is posting daily updates about Kingda Ka on its Web site. Signs outside the park’s entrance inform guests that the ride is closed before they buy tickets.