Tragedy Strikes in Castellammare di Stabia: Four Dead, One Injured in Mont Faito Cable Car Disaster
Castellammare di Stabia, Naples — A devastating accident shook the region of Campania this afternoon when a tragic malfunction on the Mont Faito cable car system led to the deaths of four people and left one person in critical condition. The catastrophe unfolded shortly after 3:00 p.m. local time, when a cable on the lift suddenly snapped, leaving both cabins suspended mid-air and 14 people — including both tourists and workers — trapped in a terrifying state of uncertainty.
According to reports from local authorities and emergency personnel on the scene, the cabin closest to the mountain station was carrying five passengers when it plummeted after the supporting cable broke. The cabin reportedly slipped backwards, violently crashing into the first supporting pylon before falling to the ground. The impact proved fatal for four of the five occupants. The fifth individual, who miraculously survived, was airlifted in critical condition to the Ospedale del Mare (Sea Hospital) in Naples, where they remain in intensive care under red-code emergency status.
The tragic incident triggered an immediate response from emergency teams, who raced against time to reach the suspended cabins and rescue those still hanging in the air. Firefighters, mountain rescue crews, and medical personnel worked in coordination to secure the area and provide aid to survivors and witnesses traumatized by the horrific events.
As the shock of the accident reverberates through the local community and the country at large, the Prosecutor’s Office of Torre Annunziata has launched a formal investigation into the causes of the disaster. The cable car plant has been officially placed under seizure to preserve evidence as authorities work to determine whether the malfunction was due to human error, mechanical failure, or possible negligence in maintenance or oversight.
The Mont Faito cable car, a popular attraction for tourists and a vital transport link for locals between Castellammare di Stabia and the heights of Mont Faito, had been recently undergoing seasonal safety checks and was considered one of the region’s most scenic yet reliable systems. Today’s events have now cast a shadow over its safety record and raised urgent questions about infrastructure management in Italy’s tourist destinations.
“This is a day of mourning,” said a visibly shaken local official. “Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims, and we vow to get to the bottom of what caused this heartbreaking tragedy.”
The names of the victims have not yet been officially released, pending notification of next of kin. The municipality of Castellammare di Stabia is expected to observe a period of mourning in the coming days.
As the investigation progresses, the nation watches closely, awaiting answers and hoping for the recovery of the sole survivor, whose fight for life continues in the hospital..