UNBELIEVABLE: Sparks Seen Under Seats Seconds Before Glória Funicular Derailment, Yet No Electrical Fault Found

By Elena Vasquez, International Correspondent

Lisbon, Portugal – September 9, 2025 – The catastrophic derailment of Lisbon’s iconic Elevador da Glória funicular on September 3, 2025, which claimed 16 lives and injured 21 others, has taken a baffling turn. Survivors and eyewitnesses have reported seeing sparks erupting from beneath the seats of the doomed carriage just moments before it careened out of control and crashed into a building. Yet, in a stunning revelation, investigators from Portugal’s Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents in Civil Aviation and Rail (GPIAAF) have found no evidence of an electrical fault in the wreckage, deepening the mystery surrounding one of Lisbon’s deadliest transport disasters in decades.

The Elevador da Glória, a 140-year-old funicular connecting the vibrant Bairro Alto district with Restauradores Square, is a cornerstone of Lisbon’s cultural and tourist landscape. Since its opening in 1885, the yellow-and-white cars have shuttled millions up and down the steep 265-meter incline, offering breathtaking views of the city’s seven hills. On that fateful Wednesday evening at around 6:05 p.m. (WEST), however, the descending car broke free from its haulage cable, hurtling uncontrollably downhill before derailing and smashing into a building near the base of Rua da Glória. The crash left a trail of devastation, with crumpled metal and shattered glass strewn across the narrow street.

Among the chaos, a chilling detail has emerged from survivor testimonies. Maria Costa, a 29-year-old Lisbon resident who was aboard the ill-fated car, described a moment of surreal terror: “I was sitting near the back when I saw it – bright, crackling sparks, like tiny fireworks, shooting out from under the seats. People started shouting, pointing at the floor. We thought the car was about to catch fire. Then, seconds later, there was this awful lurch, and we were sliding down the hill.” Another passenger, British tourist James Harrow, 42, corroborated her account: “The sparks were unmistakable. They were coming from the undercarriage, right beneath us. I thought it was an electrical short or something. Everyone panicked, and before we could process it, the car was off the tracks.”

These accounts, echoed by at least six other survivors, have gripped the public imagination, painting a vivid picture of the final moments before the tragedy. Yet, the GPIAAF’s preliminary report, released on September 6, 2025, has thrown these claims into question. The investigation, supported by Lisbon’s public transport operator Carris, concluded that the primary cause of the derailment was a broken haulage cable, likely due to material fatigue. Crucially, the report stated that no electrical faults were detected in the car’s wiring, motors, or undercarriage systems. “We conducted a thorough examination of the electrical components, including the onboard motors and wiring beneath the seats,” said GPIAAF lead investigator Ana Ribeiro. “There is no evidence of short circuits, exposed wires, or any electrical malfunction that could have produced sparks.”

This discrepancy has sparked intense speculation, both in Lisbon and online. Posts on X have exploded with theories, ranging from mechanical sabotage to paranormal phenomena. One user wrote, “Sparks under the seats but no electrical fault? Something’s not adding up. Was this a cover-up or something weirder?” Another posted, “I’ve ridden the Glória at night – it’s creepy. Those sparks could be a warning from beyond.” The lack of a clear explanation has also reignited scrutiny of the funicular’s maintenance record. Carris, which outsourced maintenance to MAIN – Maintenance Engineering in 2022 for €1 million, insists that all scheduled inspections – daily, weekly, and monthly – were up to date. However, the Carris workers’ union has long criticized MAIN’s work, citing “substandard practices” and raising concerns about the aging infrastructure of the Glória line, last overhauled in 2022.

The absence of an electrical fault has led investigators to explore alternative explanations for the reported sparks. One theory points to mechanical friction. “It’s possible that the sparks were caused by metal-on-metal contact as the cable began to fray or as the car’s undercarriage scraped against the tracks during the initial failure,” said Dr. Pedro Almeida, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Lisbon. “The funicular’s steep 17.7% gradient means any loss of traction could cause components to grind violently, producing visible sparks.” Another possibility is that debris or loose components in the undercarriage created a sparking effect as the car began its uncontrolled descent. Yet, these theories fail to fully satisfy survivors like Costa, who insists, “Those sparks weren’t just metal scraping. They were bright, like electricity, and they came from inside the car.”

The mystery is further complicated by the discovery of a diary at the crash site, as reported earlier this week. Found by rescuer Miguel Santos, the leather-bound journal, allegedly belonging to a Canadian tourist killed in the crash, contained cryptic warnings about the funicular, including a final entry urging readers to “avoid the 11 PM ride.” While the crash occurred hours earlier, the diary’s eerie tone has fueled speculation about supernatural forces. Some locals have linked the sparks to Lisbon’s rich folklore, which includes tales of ghostly apparitions haunting the Glória line, tied to the city’s 1755 earthquake or 19th-century cholera outbreaks. “The tracks run over old Roman ruins,” said Mariana Lopes, a local historian. “People have reported strange lights or sounds on the funicular for decades. Maybe those sparks were a manifestation of something older.”

Skeptics, however, urge caution. “Human memory under stress can be unreliable,” said Dr. Sofia Mendes, a psychologist specializing in trauma. “Survivors might have mistaken reflections, vibrations, or even their own fear for sparks. The brain fills in gaps during chaos.” This view is supported by the lack of physical evidence – no burn marks, melted wiring, or scorched seats were found in the wreckage. Still, the consistency of multiple witnesses’ accounts has made it difficult to dismiss the phenomenon outright.

As Lisbon grapples with the aftermath, the city remains in mourning. Flowers and candles line the crash site, and the Glória funicular, along with its sister lines, Lavra and Bica, remains shuttered pending further safety checks. Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has vowed a transparent investigation, while Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas called the incident “a wound on the city’s soul.” The international community has also responded, with condolences from leaders like Ursula von der Leyen and Pedro Sánchez. Among the victims were foreign nationals from Germany, Spain, France, and beyond, underscoring the global impact of the tragedy.

For now, the sparks remain an enigma. Were they a fleeting mechanical anomaly, a trick of the mind, or something more inexplicable? As investigators continue to comb through the wreckage and interview survivors, the Elevador da Glória’s legacy – once a symbol of Lisbon’s charm – is now tainted by unanswered questions. The city’s hills, steeped in history, hold their secrets tightly, and the truth behind those fleeting sparks may be one they guard for years to come.