Six Flags temporarily closed nine roller coasters across North America following a fatal incident at Six Flags Over Georgia. A 42-year-old man died after being ejected from the Goliath coaster.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. has temporarily closed nine roller coasters at six theme parks in the United States and Canada following a fatal incident at Six Flags Over Georgia. The closures were announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, one day after a man died while riding the Goliath coaster at the Georgia park.
The victim was identified by Cobb County police as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, an Atlanta resident who worked as an information technology manager at Wesley International Academy. According to police, Kariem was ejected from the Goliath coaster and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction. Four other people were injured in the incident.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene. Nick Mendenhall, who had just ridden the coaster, said, "It looked like he was hovering because the car was moving underneath him." Mendenhall added, "It felt like slow-motion, but it happened in an instant."
Summer Bates, another witness, noted that her children had expressed concern about their restraints earlier in the day. "I noticed they kept trying to push theirs down tighter," Bates said. "I assured them that they were OK. But once my husband, youngest child and I loaded our cart and headed up the incline, I quickly understood why my older two were messing with theirs. It just didn’t feel secure and tight."
Six Flags stated that the closures were implemented "out of an abundance of caution." The company did not specify why these particular rides were shut down or provide a timeline for their reopening. The affected coasters are all classified as hypercoasters, which Six Flags defines as steel roller coasters over 200 feet (61 meters) tall.
The closed rides include:
Most of these coasters were manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss company that also built the Goliath coaster in Georgia. The Goliath at Magic Mountain was manufactured by the now-defunct company Giovanola. Bolliger & Mabillard said in a statement that it is "actively investigating the incident" and declined further comment "until we have a better understanding of what happened."
The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident. Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which oversees annual ride inspections in the state, is "conducting an in‑depth and comprehensive review," according to spokesperson Garrison Bennett.
In the United States, major amusement park rides are not regulated by the federal government; oversight falls to individual states. Regulations vary significantly. For example, Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections and conduct their own, while California relies on a mix of state approval and owner inspections.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has previously introduced legislation to expand federal oversight of major amusement parks, arguing that current exemptions are insufficient. Opponents of such measures argue that serious injuries are rare and often result from riders failing to follow safety rules.
This incident highlights the fragmented nature of amusement park safety regulation in the United States and raises questions about restraint systems on high-speed coasters. While Six Flags has not released specific details about the cause of the ejection, witness accounts regarding loose restraints have drawn attention to potential mechanical or operational issues. The temporary closure of nine major attractions across multiple states underscores the industry's precautionary response to fatal accidents, even as investigations continue to determine the root cause.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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