Six Flags to add seat belts to roller coasters after Georgia rider’s death
Six Flags Adds Seat Belts to Coasters After Fatal Fall on Goliath
Six Flags amusement parks are taking extra safety measures in the wake of a fatal incident on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The company has announced that it will install seat belts on several of its Bolliger & Mabillard‑built coasters, and has shut down nine rides nationwide for a thorough review.
The tragedy began on October 12 when 42‑year‑old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was ejected from the Goliath ride after a lap‑restraint system failed to hold him in place. Witnesses reported seeing Kariem lift his seat, fall headfirst back into the cart, and then be propelled from the ride entirely. Other riders who had taken Goliath earlier that day voiced concerns about the restraints.
Six Flags closed Goliath immediately and began an investigation. “We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint,” said Six Flags Entertainment President and CEO John Reilly in a statement released on Friday. The company has not yet announced which other coasters will receive seat belts or when the closed rides may reopen.
All nine coasters that have been taken out of service are Bolliger & Mabillard designs that use a padded restraint that locks over a rider’s lap and upper legs, held in place by a bar between the knees. The restraint system, originally patented by the Swiss company in 2001, was intended to give riders the sensation of sitting on a “flying carpet” while still guaranteeing optimum security.
In addition to the safety overhaul at Six Flags, the incident prompted other parks to act. SeaWorld Orlando temporarily shut down its Mako roller coaster, which uses a similar restraint system, before reopening on Tuesday after a weeklong closure. A roller coaster at La Ronde in Montreal was also temporarily closed.
Six Flags said it has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures across its theme parks. The closed rides are located in Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada.
The fatal incident has raised questions about the safety of lap‑restraint systems on roller coasters. An attorney representing Kariem’s family said that the accident “could raise broader safety questions” and that the nine rides closed “may need to be re‑evaluated” before they can safely reopen.
Six Flags officials have not yet released details on the outcome of the investigations, but the addition of seat belts represents a significant shift in the company’s approach to coaster safety. The new restraints will supplement the existing lap‑restraint system, providing an extra layer of security for riders on Goliath and other coasters with similar restraint designs.
The incident underscores the importance of rigorous safety standards for high‑intensity amusement rides. As investigations continue, the industry and regulators will likely reassess the adequacy of current restraint systems on roller coasters worldwide.