In 1998 a US Prowler aircraft struck a cable in the Italian Dolomites and the incident caused the cablecar to plunge to the ground, resulting in the deaths of twenty people. The pilot had breached instructions not to fly below 1,000 feet.

The pilot of the plane and his navigator, were put on trial in the United States and were found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. They were later found guilty of obstructing justice and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman for destroying a videotape recorded from the plane and were dismissed from the Marines.

I can't help but think of the above incident whenever I travel in these things and the hysterical screams of Japenese tourists everytime the cable car gives a jolt when it passes a tower does nothing to ease the nerves. I wonder what the orange balls are for? I'm thinking that if a corrupt pilot and navigator can't see the cable car then they most likely won't see the orange balls!