Eight people were trapped on a CTA elevator for two hours after it suddenly stopped between floors.
Two men and six women were stuck on the now out of order elevator at the 79th Street Red Line station, according to witnesses.
“We had an eight month pregnant lady who was having anxiety attacks and my concern was to keep her calm," Carolyn Askew said.
Witness Kevin Pamon recorded the incident and said the CTA mechanic had some trouble opening the elevator.
"He was standing at the machine door with like 500 keys trying to find which key fits the lock,” Pamon said. "I said ‘why didn't you have those labeled?’"
Eventually the fire department and the CTA were able to free everyone safely either by ladder through the top of the elevator or through the door.
Nevertheless, passengers were not happy about the incident.
"That was really ridiculous what kind of plan do they have if this were to happen, we're at 79th street, that is a remodeled ‘L’ station,” Askew said.
A CTA spokesperson said at approximately 4:40 p.m. emergency personnel were notified of customers detained inside an elevator at the station. CTA personnel immediately notified the Chicago Fire Department who responded to the incident and assisted to the customers.
