Six Flags said Oct. 23 it plans to install seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with similar restraints after a rider died at its Georgia park on Oct. 12. The attraction remains closed while state and local authorities investigate.
Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said the upgrades would extend to rides with restraint systems like Goliath’s. The company has engaged outside engineers and ride-inspection specialists to examine operating procedures at its attractions. It has not disclosed an installation schedule or named the other coasters slated for changes.
Georgia regulations require Goliath to stay out of service until the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) completes its investigation. OCI will then determine when and under what conditions the ride may resume. The agency has not announced when its review is expected to end.
The inquiry is examining how Goliath was operated and related records for compliance with Georgia safety rules. OCI said an inspection on March 16, 2026, found no violations or deficiencies and listed no citations or red tags. The agency is also reviewing the coaster’s inspection history, permits and incident documents.
Cobb County Police Department identified the man who died as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42. Interviews with witnesses and park employees indicate Kariem was thrown from the coaster, made contact with other visitors and fell beneath the ride, police said. The department said the investigation is active; the cause of the ejection has not been established.
Six Flags said eight additional rides at five other parks were temporarily closed at the time of its update, while more than 220 roller coasters were operating across its parks. The company had said Six Flags Over Georgia was scheduled to open Oct. 16 despite Goliath’s closure, a development covered in an earlier report on the state review.
