Gröna Lund faces harsh criticism from the accident investigation commission following last summer's fatal accident.
The park's CEO, Jan Eriksson, says he welcomes the report – and that the attraction will be dismantled.
With respect for the accident and all those involved, we have decided to close Jetline for good.
Something like this has never happened before at Gröna Lund, and we will make sure something like this never happens again, he continues at a press conference.
The investigation from the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority shows that a broken arm on the rollercoaster was behind the accident last June. Several shortcomings at Gröna Lund are pointed out as decisive.
We have fully assisted the accident investigation commission's investigation and we welcome their final report. It is important for those affected and their relatives, and for us at Gröna Lund, says Eriksson.
Manufactured in 2019
The arm was manufactured in 2019 on order from Gröna Lund. However, according to the SHK, the park did not set clear enough requirements.
The manufacturer then, without the park's knowledge, subcontracted the order to a subcontractor who made several mistakes, including in the welding. The welder who performed the work allegedly lacked formal welding training.
Later, Gröna Lund also failed in its controls of the arm when the attraction was to be put into operation, and thus missed the construction flaws.
I cannot exactly say how the manufacturer misunderstood our drawings, that question is best directed to them. But in the light of the accident, we can see that we should have been more present throughout the entire manufacturing process to reduce the risks of the flaws that occurred, says Jan Eriksson.
Eriksson emphasizes that Gröna Lund will implement all of the accident investigation commission's recommendations. Measures regarding routines for orders and spare parts are already in place, he says.
Do you think one can feel safe as a visitor to Gröna Lund?
We have worked intensively since the accident to ensure our routines and working methods in all our attractions. With the knowledge we have gained from the accident, we feel confident in opening, says Jan Eriksson.
Suspected of crime
The police and prosecutors are also conducting an investigation into the incident. The suspicions concern gross negligence leading to another's death, gross negligence leading to bodily harm, and reckless endangerment of another.
Three companies, including Gröna Lund, are suspected in the investigation.
We have been notified of suspicion of crime and have been assigned a defender, but the investigation is ongoing and we have not yet been asked to take a stance on the suspicion against us, so that question will have to wait, says Jan Eriksson.
