An aging Maine ski lift succumbed to winds that sent several riders plummeting to the ground, hospitalizing at least five adults and three children.

The AP reports the lift, which went into service in 1975, was slated to be replaced soon, but passed a recent inspection. The cable jumped off the track in the face of 40 mph wind gusts. The skiers caught a break because the snow they fell into was fresh and ungroomed, meaning it was a lot softer.

“The next thing I know, it was bouncing up and down like a yo-yo,” an onlooker told the AP. “It was terrifying.”

Hospital: 5 Adults, 3 Kids Injured on Ski Lift [The Associated Press via ABC]

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