Six Flags says it will add seat belts to its Goliath roller coaster in Georgia after a rider fell to his death earlier this month
PBS NewsHour reported on Saturday, Oct. 24, that Six Flags said it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia after a rider’s death. PBS NewsHour said the park operator announced the extra safeguard less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta died after being ejected from his seat. NBC News reported that a man was ejected and fell to his death earlier this month. The Guardian reported that Six Flags will reopen the coaster with seat belts, and that the ride had been temporarily shut down. The New York Times reported that the company said all Six Flags rides and attractions would undergo safety reviews, and that the park operator faces lawsuits over safety concerns.
A seat belt is an additional restraint on a ride that had relied on other restraints, and the company’s decision to review all rides, as the New York Times reports, extends the response beyond one coaster. The pending lawsuits the Times mentions are part of the pressure on the company.
If you plan to visit a Six Flags park, the company’s announcements about ride safety reviews and the status of individual rides are the place to check. The reports reviewed do not describe changes at other parks.
The company’s view, as the reports describe the announcement, is that adding seat belts and reviewing all rides responds to the death and to safety concerns. On this view, the changes are a step toward reopening Goliath safely.
The critical view comes from the lawsuits the New York Times says the company faces over safety concerns. On this view, the announcement addresses a problem only after a death.
Confirmed across outlets: Six Flags plans to add seat belts to Goliath after a rider fell to his death earlier this month. Not confirmed: when the ride will reopen or the results of the safety reviews. Watch for the reopening date and any updates on the lawsuits.
DailyDrop U.S. No. 20 · October 24, 2026 · Evening