Six Flags announced Friday that it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, located outside Atlanta, following an incident earlier this month in which a man was ejected from the ride and fell to his death. The amusement park operator stated that the addition of seat belts forms part of a broader set of new safety measures implemented across its properties.
The fatal incident occurred on October 12, when 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was thrown from Goliath. According to witnesses at the scene, Kariem’s body struck other passengers on the ride before landing on the roof of a nearby haunted house attraction. District officials confirmed that Kariem worked at Wesley International Academy within the Atlanta Public Schools system.
In the wake of the tragedy, Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly addressed the safety changes in a formal statement. “I know trust is earned through actions and not words. As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally,” Reilly said. “We will continue to communicate about our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you.”
Following the accident, Goliath was closed to the public and remains non-operational alongside several other roller coasters across five different parks, which the company kept shut out of an abundance of caution. While Six Flags did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding a reopening timeline or a comprehensive list of affected rides, a company spokesperson previously identified several suspended attractions across various locations. Those rides include Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America, Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure, Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds, and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island. Despite these precautionary shutdowns, more than 220 roller coasters across the company’s portfolio remain open to visitors.
As part of its ongoing safety review, Six Flags has retained independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to conduct comprehensive evaluations of current safety protocols across all rides and attractions within every park in its portfolio.
The Georgia incident is the latest high-profile safety challenge for the amusement park operator. In September, Six Flags faced a lawsuit filed by riders alleging they sustained brain injuries while riding the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California, an attraction known for its 215-foot drop, sudden flips and rotations, and 360-degree rotating seats.
