‘Trust is earned through actions’: Six Flags adds seat belts after fatal roller coaster fall
As they should.
Six Flags is adding seat belts to several roller coasters after a 42-year-old man fell to his death from the Goliath ride at Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this month. The company is also bringing in independent safety specialists to review its procedures across its parks.
In a letter to guests and passholders on October 23, Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said the company was reinforcing safety precautions following the October 12 incident. Goliath, which already uses a lap bar to secure riders, will receive an additional seat belt, as will other coasters with similar restraint systems.
“I know trust is earned through actions and not words,” Reilly wrote. “As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally.” The announcement comes as investigators continue examining what happened to Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was riding Goliath at the Georgia park when he was ejected from the coaster. Several other riders were injured during the incident, including four children, according to CNN.
Six Flags is adding seat belts as safety questions linger
Goliath remains closed pending safety reviews and the necessary clearances. Eight additional rides across five other Six Flags parks have also been temporarily shut down as a precaution, after the company closed nine roller coasters across six parks in the days following Kariem’s death.
The company has not announced a final cause for Kariem’s death. Preliminary information gathered from witnesses and employees indicated that he had been ejected from the ride, according to Cobb County police. Investigators have yet to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Six Flags has hired independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its parks. Reilly also said the company would reinforce employee training and operating procedures, emphasizing the role ride operators and maintenance teams play in keeping guests safe.
It’s not the only Six Flags ride under scrutiny
The Georgia incident is not the only recent case to put Six Flags’ attractions under scrutiny. In September, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California permanently retired its X2 roller coaster amid lawsuits alleging that riders suffered serious brain injuries after riding it.
The ride had been closed since July following reports of severe injuries. The company said it decided to retire X2 despite the attraction having passed multiple safety tests. The cases involve different rides and different reported injuries, but both have raised questions about how amusement parks respond when safety concerns emerge.
For now, Six Flags says its parks remain open, with more than 220 roller coasters operating across its properties. The company has promised to communicate its progress as it reviews its safety practices.
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