FOR those at the Singapore Flyer looking on from the ground, the sight of passengers being winched down from the capsules certainly was surreal, like a scene from a disaster movie.
But for those trapped inside the cabins, it was their worst nightmare come true.
One passenger, a 42-year-old Singaporean I spoke to via mobile phone, described the mood inside his cabin in one word: Fear.
Trapped at least 12 storeys above the ground, he said he may have been the army in his time, but there was no way he was going to abseil down.
Then there was the husband of a 75-year-old elderly woman who was so worried he could not eat his dinner. Also 75, he was dead set against his wife being lowered to safety that way.
"I rather her stay inside there until they get the wheel moving again," he said.
In all, 11 brave souls went through the three-minute ordeal that night - and the public got to share the moment with the last six who were rappelled down from a location more visible than the first five.
Each time one was brought to safety, the crowd of worried family members, members of the public and journalists errupted in cheers and applause.
Many of us were horrified enough to imagine being trapped inside the Singapore Flyer for more than six hours, but to be rescued in that manner must have been even more traumatic.
Fingers crossed; such an event won't happen again. But hopefully if it comes to that in future, more considerate measures will then be in place to rescues those who do not - and can not - be brought to safety in that way.