20 rescued from New Mexico tramway while 1 employee still trapped, fire department says

Twenty people have been rescued from a gondola trapped on a New Mexico tramway while one employee remained trapped on another gondola, the Bernalillo County Fire Department said. Moisture and winds caused icing to occur on the tramway, causing two tram cars to get stuck around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Sandia Peak Tramway general manager Michael Donovan told CBS Albuquerque, New Mexico, affiliate KQRE. 

People were being rescued from the tourist attraction, which offers sweeping views of Albuquerque, 2-4 at a time, Jayme Fuller from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said. Sandia Peak posted on Facebook that it was “working closely” with search and rescue. 

Donovan told KQRE that the trapped people included employees from the tram, as well as the Ten 3 restaurant at the peak. He said the tram cars are supplied with provisions like food and water, as well as emergency heating blankets.

Some of the riders posted video and photos of icy conditions on the tramway. 

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is broadcasting a live feed of the rescue on its Facebook page. Also assisting in the rescue are BSCO Metro Air support, Bernalillo County Fire Department and New Mexico state police search and rescue.