The 456-foot-tall Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey has been demolished after a series of controlled explosions brought down the tower early Friday morning. The iconic ride, which held the world record for height and speed when it opened in 2005, was closed without prior announcement following a merger with Cedar Fair.
Kingda Ka reached speeds of 128 miles per hour using a hydraulic launch system that had caused maintenance issues throughout its two-decade lifespan. Although it no longer holds the record, its closure comes as several other record-breaking roller coasters are set to open in the near future, including Six Flags Qiddiya City’s Falcon’s Flight.
The park will replace Kingda Ka and nearby Green Lantern with a new roller coaster later this year. The implosion sparked sadness among fans worldwide, who had grown fond of the ride during its time as one of the world’s most iconic attractions.
Source: https://ew.com/kingda-ka-implosion-six-flags-11688263