Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider’s death

The CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, John Reilly, announced that the company will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster in Georgia, following the death of a rider. The safety upgrade will also be implemented on other similar coasters owned by Six Flags. The incident occurred on October 12 when 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta was ejected from his seat during the ride.

Goliath has been temporarily closed while state and local officials investigate the circumstances surrounding Kariem's death. Six Flags temporarily shuttered eight additional roller coasters across five U.S. and Canadian parks, all of which utilize the same manufacturer and restraint system. The theme park operator has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures across all rides at its parks.

Witnesses reported seeing Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected. Some riders who were on Goliath before him that day expressed concerns about the ride's restraints. All nine Six Flags coasters closed were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, featuring a clamshell restraint system designed to give riders the sensation of being on a flying carpet or scooter while ensuring safety.

Following the incident, other theme parks, including SeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde in Montreal, temporarily closed one roller coaster each with similar restraints. SeaWorld re-opened its Mako coaster after being closed for a week. The Associated Press has inquired with SeaWorld and La Ronde regarding potential seat belt or safety upgrades for their coasters.