NewsWFLA News Channel 8October 24, 2026Hillsborough County
Six Flags adds seat belts to Georgia roller coaster and similar rides following rider's fatality
Photo: WFLA News Channel 8
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster in Georgia and other rides with similar restraints following a rider's fatal fall. The company has temporarily closed nine roller coasters across its parks that share the same manufacturer and restraint system while independent engineers review safety procedures.
Read the full story at WFLA News Channel 8Why It Matters
Park visitors face temporary closures of nine roller coasters across multiple locations in the U.S. and Canada while the company implements safety upgrades.
Key Facts
- Six Flags CEO John Reilly announced the company will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster and other rides with similar restraints.
- The safety changes follow the Oct. 12 death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was ejected from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
- Goliath remains shut down while state and local officials investigate the incident.
- Six Flags has temporarily closed eight additional roller coasters at five other parks in the U.S. and Canada.
- The nine affected roller coasters all share the same manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, and a similar clamshell restraint system.
- Six Flags has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures for all rides at its theme parks.
- Non-Six Flags parks SeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde also temporarily closed one roller coaster apiece utilizing clamshell restraints following the incident.
- SeaWorld reopened its Mako coaster on Tuesday after it was offline for a week.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationLa Ronde“theme park in Montreal, Canada”locationU.S.“country where parks are located”PersonHassan Jihad Ibn Kariem“rider who died on the Goliath coaster”locationGurnee“location of a Six Flags park in Illinois”OrganizationSix Flags Entertainment Corporation“theme park operator”locationMason“location of a Six Flags park in Ohio”locationSix Flags Over Georgia“theme park where the incident occurred”PersonJohn Reilly“president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation”OrganizationSeaWorld Orlando“theme park in Florida”locationVaughan“location of a Six Flags park in Ontario”locationAtlanta“city of residence for the rider”locationCanada“country where parks are located”locationCharlotte“location of a Six Flags park in North Carolina”locationJackson Township“location of a Six Flags park in New Jersey”OrganizationMako“roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando”OrganizationBolliger & Mabillard“Swiss company that manufactured the roller coasters and restraint system”OrganizationGoliath“roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia”