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Tokyo Dome Employee Dies After ‘Flying Balloon’ Ride Inspection Accident

Investigators are focusing on why the ride’s seat ring dropped during a scheduled check.

Overview

  • The worker, identified as 24-year-old Hinana Uemura, became trapped during a routine inspection Tuesday late morning and died at a hospital after a roughly five-hour rescue.
  • Police said she was working on a ladder at the base of the ride when the ring of seats appears to have dropped and pinned her against the central pillar.
  • The attraction, called Flying Balloon, lifts rotating seats to about 10 meters, and it was shut for scheduled maintenance at the time of the accident.
  • Firefighters reported a difficult rescue that required removing or damaging parts of the structure, and staff cordoned the area with tarps as operations for the day were halted.
  • The Metropolitan Police opened a case for possible professional negligence causing death and carried out an on-site inspection Wednesday as Tokyo Dome said the park will stay closed while it investigates and works on prevention.