Six Flags Goliath to Reopen With Seat Belts After Fatal Fall
WHO:
NBC News - Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, worked at Wesley International Academy in the Atlanta Public Schools district.
CNN - Kariem was a 42-year-old Atlanta resident and a “cherished member” of a public charter school.
NBC News - Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said he took responsibility for the company’s safety commitments personally.
CNN - Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit said preliminary information came from witnesses and employees. Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said state authorities were investigating; Cobb County police were assisting state and park officials.
WHAT:
NBC News - Six Flags previously identified the temporarily closed rides as Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America; Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain; Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure; Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland; Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds; and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island.
NBC News - Six Flags announced it would add seat belts to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia as part of broader safety measures.
CNN - Six Flags said it would add seat belts to Goliath and other roller coasters with similar restraints. The company said Goliath remained closed pending safety reviews and clearances.
CNN - Police said several other parkgoers were injured, including four minors. Kariem was found “unresponsive and not breathing.”
NBC News - Kariem was ejected from Goliath, struck other riders, and landed on the roof of a haunted-house attraction below, according to witnesses.
CNN - A witness, CiCi Nelson, said an arriving cart had an empty seat, riders were hysterical, the empty seat’s safety bar appeared loose, and another young passenger appeared injured and covered in blood.
NBC News - More than 220 Six Flags roller coasters remained in operation.
CNN - Goliath and eight other rides at five additional Six Flags parks remained temporarily closed; the company said its parks remained open.
CNN - Six Flags engaged independent engineers and ride-inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its attractions.
CNN - CNN’s review of safety records from 2016 through 2026 found Goliath appeared to have passed annual state inspections. Its March 16 inspection reported no violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags. A separate report said bushings needed replacement.
NBC News - Six Flags had been sued in September by riders alleging brain injuries on X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
WHERE:
NBC News - Goliath is at Six Flags Over Georgia, outside Atlanta.
CNN - The investigation involved Georgia authorities, Cobb County police, and Six Flags officials.
WHEN:
BBC - Goliath opened in 2006.
NBC News - Six Flags announced the seat-belt plan on a Friday. The article says Kariem died Oct. 12.
CNN - CNN reported the fatal fall occurred on October 12.
WHY:
NBC News - Six Flags said rides were closed “out of an abundance of caution.”
CNN - Georgia authorities were reviewing evidence, equipment, and documentation to determine whether state safety requirements were followed.
HOW:
BBC - Goliath has a 200-foot (60-meter) elevation, a 170-foot plunge, a 540-degree spiral, and speeds up to 70 mph (112 km/h); Six Flags rates it four out of five on its thrill scale.
CNN - Goliath is a 3.5-minute ride reaching 70 mph and 200 feet in height. It has a waist restraint and no over-the-shoulder harness.
CNN - Reilly said ride operators receive classroom instruction, hands-on training, supervised on-the-job experience, and additional instruction and evaluation as needed.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 20:03 UTC)
A 42-year-old Atlanta man died after being ejected from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, and several other visitors, including four minors, were injured. Witnesses said he struck other riders before landing on the roof of a nearby attraction. Georgia authorities and Cobb County police are investigating, reviewing evidence, equipment and records to determine whether safety requirements were met. Six Flags will add seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with similar restraints; the ride remains closed pending reviews and clearance. The company has also temporarily closed eight other rides across five parks, citing caution, while its parks remain open and more than 220 coasters continue operating. Independent engineers and inspection specialists are reviewing safety procedures across the company’s attractions. Six Flags’ chief executive said he takes the company’s safety commitments personally. Goliath, a 70-mile-per-hour coaster, has a waist restraint and no shoulder harness.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 19:04 UTC)
Six Flags is adding seat belts to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and to other coasters with similar restraints, after a 42-year-old park employee, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, died in a fall from the ride. Witnesses said Kariem was ejected, struck other riders and landed on the roof of a haunted-house attraction. Police said several other visitors were injured, including four minors. Goliath, a 200-foot coaster that reaches speeds of 70 miles per hour, remains closed while safety reviews and investigations continue. The park and eight other rides at five Six Flags locations are also temporarily closed, though the company’s parks remain open. State authorities are examining evidence, equipment and records, with Cobb County police assisting. Six Flags has brought in independent engineers and ride-inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its attractions. Company CEO John Reilly said he personally takes responsibility for the company’s safety commitments.