Six Flags Over Georgia is scheduled to open Friday, while its Goliath coaster remains shut during a state investigation into a fatal fall, with similar rides offline at parks in the United States and Canada.
Six Flags said the park would open as scheduled Oct. 16. Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) says Goliath cannot return to service before its investigation is complete.
The Cobb County Police Department identified the rider as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta. Police said preliminary interviews with witnesses and employees indicate Kariem was ejected, struck other patrons and fell beneath the ride. The department said its inquiry remains active and has not identified what caused his ejection.
OCI said its most recent inspection of Goliath, on March 16, 2026, recorded no violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags. State rules require stationary amusement rides to be inspected before serving the public and at least once each year afterward. Investigators are reviewing how the coaster was operated and checking records for compliance with state safety requirements.
John F. King, Georgia’s insurance and safety fire commissioner, said, “We have a solemn responsibility to determine what happened.”
WSB-TV reported that a Six Flags spokeswoman said similar attractions had been taken offline. The station’s list named nine coasters at six parks. SeaWorld Orlando confirmed that Mako was temporarily closed, while La Ronde in Montreal said its Goliath was out of service during a safety review with the manufacturer.
Bolliger & Mabillard, which built the Georgia coaster, told ClickOrlando it had begun investigating and would provide no further comment until it had a clearer understanding of the incident.
Six Flags says Goliath opened in 2006 and stands 200 feet (61 meters) tall. The state has not given a date for deciding when or under what conditions the ride could reopen.
