London cable car breaks down, stranding passengers

Published Jul. 25, 2012 1:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

Cable car passengers got plenty of time to view London's sights after the system linking two Olympic venues broke down and left them stranded above the River Thames.

The cable car system, dubbed the Emirates Air Line, opened last month and links the 02 Arena in Greenwich - which will host Olympic basketball and gymnastics - and the ExCel exhibition center, where boxing will take place.

Emirates Air Line said Wednesday the system experienced a technical fault just before noon. It said all passengers were returned safely to the terminal within about a half hour and offered its apologies to those affected.

Dubai-based Emirates invested 36 million pounds ($55.7 million) as part of a 10-year sponsorship deal, and is catering to the tourists expected for the London Olympics.