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Six Flags to Add Seat Belts to Goliath and Similar Coasters After Fatal Georgia Fall

Six Flags will add seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with similar restraints after the Oct. 12 death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem at Six Flags Over Georgia, while Goliath and eight other rides stay closed pending safety reviews.

By admin Oct. 25, 2026 · 11:44 AM ET 2 min read

A tall steel roller coaster with a train of riders climbing a steep lift hill under a cloudy sky

Six Flags will add seat belts to Goliath and other roller coasters with similar restraints after a rider fell to his death from the ride at Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this month, the company said Friday.

A tall steel roller coaster with a train of riders climbing a steep lift hill under a cloudy sky

Goliath remains closed pending safety reviews and clearances, Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said in a statement to guests and passholders. The company said it has brought in independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its parks.

What happened on Oct. 12

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta resident, fell from Goliath on Oct. 12, according to CNN. Police said he was ejected from the ride, struck other riders, and was found under the coaster unresponsive and not breathing. Four minors were among the other parkgoers injured, police said.

An empty roller coaster seat with a padded lap bar lowered across it and steel track behind it

Goliath is a ride of about three and a half minutes that reaches 70 mph and a height of 200 feet, CNN reported. It used a padded, U-shaped lap bar that locks across riders’ thighs, with no over-the-shoulder harness and no seat belt. The addition of seat belts changes that restraint system while investigators continue to examine what happened.

Nine rides closed while reviews continue

Goliath and eight other rides at five additional Six Flags parks remain closed as a precaution, according to the company. Six Flags said more than 220 roller coasters continue to operate across its properties.

An amusement park midway lined with game stalls and a tall roller coaster in the background

Georgia authorities are investigating the death, reviewing evidence, equipment and records to determine whether state safety requirements were followed, according to a statement last week from Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. Cobb County police are assisting state and park officials.

A worker in a yellow hard hat and high-visibility vest crouching to inspect the base of a steel roller coaster support

Six Flags Over Georgia reopened Oct. 16 for its Halloween Fright Fest events with Goliath still closed, and the park renamed a Fright Fest show out of respect for the people affected. Reilly said in his statement, “I know trust is earned through actions and not words.”

Reporting based on coverage by CNN and USA Today.

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