Overview
- A 42-year-old man, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was fatally ejected from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12 after preliminary accounts said he left his seat and fell beneath the ride.
- Six Flags’ CEO John Reilly announced on October 23 that the company will add seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with similar clamshell lap-bar restraints and has hired independent engineers and ride-inspection specialists for a companywide safety review.
- Goliath remains closed and nine other roller coasters at multiple Six Flags parks are temporarily shut as the company and Georgia regulators conduct technical checks and Cobb County police continue a criminal inquiry; no official mechanical cause has been declared.
- Witnesses and a circulated on-ride photo reported an apparent lap-bar problem at the time of the incident, but officials say that observation is not a confirmed cause and investigators are still examining equipment, maintenance records, and operating procedures.
- The case highlights how U.S. fixed-site ride oversight varies by state and follows records showing Goliath passed a March 16, 2026 inspection despite internal maintenance notes earlier this year flagging parts such as bushings for attention, which could shape regulatory and operational changes.