Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen for normal operations on Friday, October 16, but the Goliath roller coaster will remain closed after a man was ejected from the ride and fell to his death earlier this week. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kareim, 42, an Atlanta teacher and robotics coach, died Monday after he was thrown from the Goliath coaster at the park in Austell, Georgia.
Cobb County police said officers responded at 3:58 p.m. and found him beneath the ride, unresponsive. Witnesses reported seeing him come out of his seat, strike the ride multiple times, and fall onto a haunted house attraction below.
Goliath, which first opened in 2006, can reach up to 70 miles per hour and go as high as 200 feet. According to Park President Richard Pretlow, the attraction will remain closed while the park works with authorities.
The accident has deeply affected the park staff. Nine other identical roller coasters owned by Six Flags across the country have been temporarily shut down as a precaution.
These include Raging Bull, Nitro, Leviathan, Behemoth, Fury 325, Thunder Striker, Orion, and Diamondback. Bolliger & Mabillard, the manufacturer of the ride, is currently analyzing the incident to determine the cause of the mechanical or human failure.
The death occurs during an ongoing investigation into Six Flags' safety practices. As reported by CNN, analysis of public records and court filings uncovered several hundred cases of injuries at various Six Flags parks in recent years due to faulty restraint bars, derailment, and other mechanical failures.
Two separate lawsuits filed by investors claim that the company delayed maintenance and reduced staffing after its merger with Cedar Fair in 2024. The legal filings suggest that cost-cutting measures may have compromised the safety protocols that were previously strictly enforced at these amusement parks.
The park management has expressed its deepest condolences to the family of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kareim. They have promised full cooperation with the Cobb County police and state safety inspectors to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated in the future.
Safety advocates are calling for stricter federal oversight of amusement park rides, noting that state-level inspections vary significantly in quality and frequency. The incident has reignited a national debate regarding the maintenance standards of large-scale roller coasters.
As the investigation continues, the park remains under heightened scrutiny. Visitors are being advised to check the official park website for updates regarding the status of other attractions before planning their visits.
The closure of the nine sister rides across the United States reflects the severity with which the company is treating the situation. Industry experts suggest that a comprehensive safety audit of all Six Flags properties may be necessary to restore public confidence.