Six Flags adds seat belts to Goliath coaster after rider's fatal fall

Six Flags said it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The company said Friday the belts are part of a wider set of new safety steps at the park outside Atlanta.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was thrown from the ride and died after the fall on Oct. 12 this year. What caused the ejection has not been determined.

Key facts

• Six Flags will add seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint, CEO John Reilly said.
• Goliath is still shut, along with several rides at five other parks, the company said.
• Six Flags says more than 220 of its coasters were still running as of Friday.
• Independent engineers and ride inspectors are reviewing safety procedures at every park, Six Flags said.
• Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King is leading the investigation.

What Six Flags is changing

Reilly said the seat belts will go on Goliath "and other coasters with a similar restraint," CBS News reported. Riders on the coaster's 36 seats are now held in place by a padded clamshell lap bar that locks over the thighs and waist.

The company is also bringing in outside help. Six Flags said it hired independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to look at safety practices across all of its parks.

Reilly struck a humble tone. "I know trust is earned through actions and not words," he said. He added that the company will keep sharing updates on its progress.

Rides that are closed

Goliath is not running. Six Flags said it closed Goliath and several rides at five other parks as a precaution.

A company spokesperson listed closed rides including Raging Bull, Nitro, Leviathan, Behemoth and Fury 325. The list also included Goliath at Magic Mountain, Thunder Striker, Orion and Diamondback.

Most coasters are still open. Six Flags said more than 220 of its roller coasters were in operation as of Friday. The company has not said when the closed rides will reopen.

Inspection history

State records give a mixed picture. Reports from 2014 to 2026 show Goliath passed its yearly inspections, even as inspectors flagged problems such as corrosion and worn drive wheels.

The latest review came in March. The March 2026 inspection ended in a pass, though an inspector wrote that bushings needed replacing.

That note is disputed as a factor. Whether the bushings had anything to do with the restraint system is disputed, and no link to the accident has been confirmed.

CBS News also obtained records showing 20 violations between 2016 and 2021, all fixed quickly, and none after that.

Background

Goliath is a large ride. It opened in 2006 and reaches up to 70 miles per hour on track that climbs 200 feet, CBS News reported. Swiss maker Bolliger & Mabillard designed it.

Six Flags is a big operator. SEC filings show it runs nearly three dozen parks, which drew more than 47 million guests and employed 95,000 people in 2025.

This is not the only recent ride closure. Six Flags Magic Mountain permanently shut the X2 coaster in September after claims that riders suffered brain injuries.

Who is affected

Kariem was employed by Wesley International Academy in the Atlanta Public Schools district.

Park visitors are also affected. Guests at six Six Flags parks face closed coasters with no reopening date.

What it means for you

People planning a trip to a Six Flags park may find some coasters unavailable. The company has not named every closed coaster or set reopening dates, so plans may need to change.

Riders on similar coasters may notice new seat belts once the changes are made. The company has not given a timeline.

Practical steps

• Call or check ahead. Six Flags has not shared a full list of closed coasters or reopening dates, so checking with the park before a visit can help.
• Know which rides were named. A spokesperson's list included Raging Bull, Nitro, Leviathan and Fury 325, among others.

What happens next

Investigators will look at whether maintenance problems, design flaws or human error played a role, CBS News reported. Expert theories about the cause, from mechanical failure to operator error, are not confirmed.

There are also differing accounts about ride staff. Some former operators said they felt hurried on Goliath, while Six Flags says its operators receive extensive training.

When the investigation will end is not known.

FAQ

Which ride was involved? Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, a coaster that opened in 2006 and hits 70 mph.

Is Goliath open? No. Six Flags says Goliath is still closed, along with rides at five other parks.

Who is investigating? Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King is leading the probe.

What caused the accident? That has not been determined. Investigators are examining maintenance, design and human error.

How many Six Flags coasters are running? The company says more than 220 remain in operation.

Who was the rider? Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, who worked at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta Public Schools.

Who designed Goliath? Swiss maker Bolliger & Mabillard, CBS News reported.

Has Goliath had violations before? CBS News found 20 violations from 2016 to 2021, all resolved quickly, and none since.

Are other Six Flags parks affected? Yes. Rides at five other parks are also closed, including Fury 325 and Diamondback, the company said.

What restraint does Goliath use now? A padded clamshell lap bar over the thighs and waist.