Six Flags Ride Closed for Maintenance Hours Before Fatal Fall; Records Show History of Malfunctions

The Six Flags Goliath rollercoaster was reportedly closed for maintenance hours before a fatal incident occurred on Monday, during which a rider was violently ejected from the attraction. Hassan Kariem, 42, was thrown from his seat on the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, striking the ride multiple times before falling to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told the New York Post they were at the park around 1 p.m. on Monday and attempted to ride the Goliath, but were informed it was closed for maintenance. They observed park staff conducting "maintenance runs" on the ride. Just a few hours later, Kariem fell from the same ride.

Authorities are investigating the incident, with state officials and Cobb County Major Crimes detectives examining the coaster's restraints, locking mechanisms, and safety sensors. Some witnesses reported that the restraints were making a "weird clicking" noise before the ride departed, and that park staff checked them multiple times. Kariem was reportedly ejected near the final turn of the ride.

Four other individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the aftermath of the incident. Following the tragedy, Six Flags closed the Goliath ride and temporarily shut down over ten other rollercoasters nationwide as a precaution. Six Flags Over Georgia is scheduled to reopen on Friday.

An investigation by CNN, citing safety records from more than a dozen Six Flags parks across three states, revealed a history of maintenance issues and guest injuries. These include train derailments, faulty restraint bars, chemical burns, dislocated joints, concussions, and broken bones. Since 2021, California regulators have received nearly 300 accident reports from Six Flags parks, while New Jersey records show a train derailment in 2024 due to equipment failure and repeated instances of lap bars opening mid-ride. The El Toro ride in New Jersey has been the subject of repeated safety reports and lawsuits, including a significant incident in August 2022 where over a dozen people were injured.

In Texas, state regulators received numerous injury reports related to Six Flags' water park attractions, and other incidents detail broken bones and back injuries. Lawsuits filed by investors allege that Six Flags deferred necessary repairs and maintenance prior to its merger with Cedar Fair. A Six Flags spokesperson told CNN that the company is "committed to rigorous ride inspection, maintenance and safety procedures" and that all reported injuries are taken seriously and reviewed. The spokesperson also noted that broad conclusions from compiled reports may not provide the full context of individual events.

In a separate incident last month, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced the demolition of its X2 rollercoaster following a series of lawsuits alleging severe rider injuries. The park had settled a wrongful-death lawsuit related to the death of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley in 2022 and faced other lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries.

A theme park expert told Channel 2 that incidents of a person being ejected from a rollercoaster are incredibly rare and suggested this particular case "sounds like a freak accident" that requires investigation results to fully understand. He also indicated that it did not appear to be a case of a guest being on the coaster who shouldn't have been.