Forgot to mention, it happened in Antwerp, we watched the media for a couple days but didn't see any mention so i assume no one was seriously hurt, but never found out.

i experienced a escalator breakdown on new years day year 2000, 1 am. it was pretty terrifying. it was after the best fireworks show i've ever seen. we were riding up trying to escape a overcrowded lite rail platform. people were literally pushed to the edge of the platform with a packed escalator continually feeding more people down, so as soon as my group of six got to the bottom we turned around and went back up. it was already sketch, but it got worse. when we were halfway up both sides stopped and two seconds later the side going down just let go, free fall, for six to ten feet. everyone going down was knocked flat, it left a pile of people at the bottom. the craziest thing i remember was the first person up on the other side hoisting his child (like a six to eight year old) over to our side, which was still in stair mode and not scooby doo trick sliding stair mode. the look on his face was imminent death, save the child was the only thing that mattered.
i hate long posts so sorry but i wanted to correct the notion that escalators can't break.