Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six amusement parks in the United States and Canada. This follows a fatal incident on the Goliath ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. The tragic accident occurred on Monday, October 12, 2026, when a 42-year-old rider was ejected from his seat on the hypercoaster.
Cobb County police identified the victim as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta. He worked as an educator at Wesley International Academy. According to investigators from the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and preliminary witness statements, Kariem became separated from the ride’s restraint system while the coaster was in motion. He then struck parts of the train and fell onto the roof of a haunted house attraction below.
Precautionary Closures Across North America
Park operators initiated widespread precautionary shutdowns of similar high-speed steel roller coasters in response to the incident. The Associated Press confirmed that nine rides across six different North American properties were taken offline while safety reviews and formal investigations take place.
The affected roller coasters share similar engineering profiles. They primarily consist of high-speed hypercoasters and giga coasters manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). These rides feature open-air seating and individual lap-bar restraints. The list of temporarily closed attractions includes:
- Goliath – Six Flags Over Georgia (Mableton, Georgia)
- Raging Bull – Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois)
- Goliath – Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California)
- Nitro – Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson Township, New Jersey)
- Diamondback – Kings Island (Mason, Ohio)
- Orion – Kings Island (Mason, Ohio)
- Leviathan – Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario)
- Behemoth – Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario)
- Fury 325 – Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Thunder Striker – Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Goliath – La Ronde (Montreal, Quebec)
- Mako – SeaWorld Orlando (Orlando, Florida)
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks,” a Six Flags spokesperson stated. “The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities.”
Eyewitness Accounts and Investigation Underway
Park visitors recounted harrowing scenes following the emergency stop of the Goliath ride. The hypercoaster opened on April 1, 2006. It towers 200 feet tall, spans 4,480 feet of track, and reaches maximum speeds of 70 miles per hour.
Park officials confirmed they are cooperating fully with the Cobb County Police Department and the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. Investigators are examining maintenance logs, automated ride camera footage, witness testimonies, and restraint mechanisms. They want to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the passenger’s ejection.
Legal and safety experts note that comprehensive reviews of this nature typically take weeks or months. Engineers must analyze every aspect of the ride’s mechanical and operational systems before clearing any attractions to resume normal operations.
Community Remembers Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem
The Atlanta community and local educational networks expressed profound sorrow following the loss of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem. Atlanta Public Schools and colleagues at Wesley International Academy remembered him as a dedicated teacher, mentor, and passionate advocate for families throughout the city.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Six Flags said in an official statement.
Authorities will release further updates regarding the reopening timeline for the closed attractions and the final conclusions of the safety investigation as they become available.
