Business & Finance · October 24, 2026
Six Flags signals Goliath roller coaster will reopen — with seat belts — after fatal fall at Georgia park
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has announced it will install seat belts on its Goliath roller coaster and other attractions with similar restraint systems following a fatal incident at its Georgia park. The decision comes after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died on October 12 after falling from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. CEO John Reilly stated the company is also conducting comprehensive safety reviews across its parks and has engaged independent engineers to examine procedures. The Goliath ride, which reaches speeds of 70 mph and heights of 200 feet, previously utilized waist restraints without seat belts or over-the-shoulder harnesses.
Read the original coverage
- CNNMainstream
Six Flags signals Goliath roller coaster will reopen — with seat belts — after fatal fall at Georgia park | CNN
Read at CNN ↗ Six Flags to Add Seatbelts on Roller Coasters After Rider’s Death
Read at The New York Times ↗- PBS NewsNonprofit
Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death
Read at PBS News ↗ - NBC NewsMainstream
Six Flags to add seat belts to roller coaster after Georgia man falls to his death
Read at NBC News ↗ - Washington TimesMainstream
Six Flags to add seat belts to certain rides after death at Georgia park
Read at Washington Times ↗
Reported by multiple outlets
- Six Flags will add seat belts to the Goliath roller coaster and other rides with similar restraint systems.
- The decision follows the death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12.
- CEO John Reilly announced the safety measures in a statement on Friday.
- Goliath remains closed pending safety reviews and investigations.
- Goliath features a waist restraint but previously lacked an over-the-shoulder harness or seat belt.
Reported by only some outlets
- Four minors and other parkgoers were also injured in the October 12 incident.
- Six Flags is currently facing lawsuits over safety concerns.
- Independent engineers and ride inspection specialists have been hired to review company-wide safety procedures.
Industry-friendly coverage frames it as…
emphasize the proactive steps taken by the CEO to engage independent engineers and reinforce safety across all attractions
Skeptical / consumer coverage frames it as…
highlight the ongoing lawsuits and the fact that safety upgrades are occurring only after a fatal incident and injuries to minors
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