Cable Car Crash Near Naples, Italy, Leaves Four Dead, One Critically Injured

In this photo released by the Italian Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps on Thursday, April 17, 2025, rescuers reach for the smashed gondola of the Mt. Faito cable car near Naples in southern Italy

A tragic cable car accident occurred Thursday in Castellammare di Stabia, south of Naples, killing at least four people and leaving one critically injured after a cable snapped while the car was traversing Monte Faito, a popular tourist destination.

The incident happened when the traction cable broke, causing the upward-moving cabin to fall. The impact resulted in four fatalities and a critical injury. The downward-moving cable car was brought to an abrupt halt but did not crash. Eight tourists and an operator on board that car were safely evacuated, according to officials.

Castellammare Mayor Luigi Vicinanza explained that “the traction cable broke. The emergency brake downstream worked, but evidently not the one on the cabin that was entering the station,” suggesting a possible mechanical failure in the braking system of the ascending cabin.

Emergency response teams, including Italy’s alpine rescue, firefighters, police, and civil protection units, arrived swiftly at the scene to carry out rescue and evacuation operations.

The accident occurred just one week after the cable car resumed seasonal operations. The Monte Faito line is well known for offering panoramic views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, attracting thousands of tourists each year.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences to the victims' families and stated she was in contact with rescue teams. At the time of the incident, Meloni was in Washington, D.C., attending a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

An investigation into the exact cause of the cable failure and the apparent brake malfunction is ongoing, with officials expected to examine safety protocols and maintenance records.