Full Breakdown
Fatal Ejection on Six Flags Over Georgia’s Goliath Roller Coaster Triggers State Investigation
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Fatal Ejection on Goliath
- On October 12, 2026, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and died at the scene. Four children were injured with non-life-threatening injuries. The park closed the ride and reopened on October 16, 2026.
Background & Context
- Goliath, a Bolliger & Mabillard steel coaster opened in 2006, climbs 200 ft, drops 170 ft, and reaches 70 mph. Six Flags operates nearly three dozen parks across North America, serving about 47 million guests in 2025. Prior incidents on Goliath models include a 2002 brain-aneurysm death and a 2006 likely heart-attack death at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Timeline
- March 2026 – State inspection finds no violations; a note recommends replacement of bushings.
- October 12, 2026 – Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem is ejected and dies; four children injured.
- October 16, 2026 – Six Flags Over Georgia reopens after a scheduled closure.
- October 22, 2026 – Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announces a full investigation into maintenance, design, and operator factors.
Data & Statistics
- Goliath has 36 seats, each secured by a padded clamshell lap-bar restraint.
- Inspection records (2016-2021) show 20 quickly resolved violations, none since.
- Bushings—components that reduce friction in bogie assemblies—were flagged in March and were replaced.
- Six Flags’ safety program includes daily, weekly, monthly, and annual inspections of attractions.
Official Statements & Responses
- A Six Flags spokesperson expressed condolences and said the company is cooperating with state authorities and the ride manufacturer while maintaining a commitment to guest safety.
- Park president Richard Pretlow said Six Flags’ inspection, maintenance, and operational procedures “meet or exceed industry standards” and pledged support for affected families while keeping other attractions open.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Witnesses reported seeing Kariem ejected from his seat. Ride-operator Daniel, who works on a Goliath at another park, explained the restraint-check sequence involving orange and green control-panel buttons.
- A park employee familiar with the March inspection clarified that the flagged bushings were on bogie assemblies, not directly on the restraint system, and had been replaced as recommended.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Authorities have not identified the specific coaster component that failed, while witnesses attribute the ejection to a restraint malfunction.
- The March inspection note about bushings is interpreted differently: some experts see it as a potential maintenance lapse, whereas a park insider says the bushings were unrelated to restraints and were already replaced.
What’s Next
- The state investigation, led by Commissioner King, will examine maintenance logs, operator training records, and manufacturer guidelines. Findings will be communicated to Six Flags and other B&M coaster operators as the inquiry progresses.