Thrill-seekers were left dangling in terror for nearly three hours at a top theme park, as firefighters scrambled to rescue them.

Around 20 adventure enthusiasts boarded the Sol Spin ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California just before 2pm, when it abruptly malfunctioned and halted mid-flight, leaving many riders in a precarious horizontal position.

Dramatic aerial footage from abc7 showed trapped individuals stretching and swinging their legs in a bid to stay calm.

A representative for Knott's Berry Farm stated: "At approximately 2pm, the Sol Spin ride experienced technical difficulties causing the ride to stop. We are currently working to safely evacuate guests".

The ride was eventually lowered in a nerve-wracking moment, and visitors were observed limping away, with at least one person requiring a wheelchair for exit.

Knott's Berry Farm, sprawling over 57 acres in Buena Park, California, and operated by Six Flags, was named the twelfth-most-visited amusement park in North America as of March 2015.

In a separate incident at another beloved theme park, a scuffle and a mysterious "popping noise" incited panic at Disney's Magic Kingdom, prompting law enforcement to dispel unfounded rumours. The commotion erupted at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, around the 10pm closing time on Thursday.

An eyewitness recounted that the pandemonium broke out just after the "Happy Ever After" fireworks display concluded, describing how his family and he took refuge in a store as crowds surged in amidst the turmoil, reports the Mirror US.

He recounted to Fox 35 Orlando how security urged the family to seek shelter inside the store, and whilst he didn't feel his life was "totally endangered", he noted several individuals were "quite upset", with some resorting to prayer. The whispers of an active shooter quickly made rounds, as folks began broadcasting the panic on social media.