About 50 passengers were on board when the accident occurred on Wednesday at an altitude of 2,300 metres, according to Alpe d'Huez Mayor Jean-Yves Noyrey.
People were mainly affected by shock and concussion, Noyrey says, adding that most were able to leave the hospital.
After the collision with the crane, the funicular began to tilt sharply. Passengers slipped and fell on top of one another.
They thought they were going to die, but the driver acted well by reversing and stabilising the cabin, the mayor says.
