A chaotic moment at a Manhattan, NY subway station is going viral after a woman became trapped in a newly installed fare gate, with the doors clamping shut on either side of her neck as she tried to rush through.
The incident happened at the Broadway/Lafayette station, where a woman wearing a long black coat appeared to be hurrying to catch a train. In the viral video, she attempts to squeeze through the automated gate just as it snaps shut, leaving her stuck and flailing while commuters look on in shock.
Footage shows an MTA worker on the other side of the gate trying to pry the doors open as the woman struggles to free herself. The clip was originally shared online by a bystander and quickly spread across social media.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
According to technicians who spoke with the New York Post, the woman was likely attempting to slip through the fare gate behind another commuter without paying. One MTA employee explained that the system is designed to detect two people passing through at once.
“This happens when two people try to get through together,” the employee said. “The sensor picks it up and closes the doors on the second person.”
Another technician said the only way to release someone once the gate clamps shut is to power it down and manually open the doors. The new fare gates are still being tested and are currently installed at select stations across the city.
The bizarre scene sparked plenty of reactions online and on the platform.
“It’s dystopian,” said one New Yorker, comparing the gates to an overbearing relationship. Another commuter said the solution was simple: pay attention — and pay the fare.
Others were less forgiving, with one tourist joking, “How stupid do you have to be to get your head stuck in there?”
Online commenters quickly piled on with dark humor. “Great, now the MTA is guillotining people,” one Reddit user quipped. Another questioned whether the woman could sue over the design.
The NYPD said it had no official record of the incident.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the video was taken during the early hours of the pilot program and that the equipment is being closely monitored.
Similar automated fare gates are used in other cities, including Boston, though they rarely close quickly enough to trap someone. In New York, the MTA has spent millions rolling out new anti–fare evasion measures, including the controversial gates and fin-like barriers on older turnstiles.
Pay up!
Looks black to me.