Six Flags to add seat belts to Georgia coaster and similar rides after rider's death

Eight other roller coasters using clamshell restraints remain closed across US and Canada

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Updated24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

Six Flags will install seat belts on the Georgia roller coaster from which a rider fell to his death this month, and on other coasters with similar restraints, the company's chief executive said Friday. The announcement came less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta was ejected from his seat on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12. Investigators have not said what caused the accident, and eight additional coasters at five other parks remain closed.

John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, said in a statement Friday: "We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint." He did not specify which other rides will get the belts, and Six Flags has not said when the closed coasters are expected to reopen.

All nine of the coasters the company has taken offline were manufactured by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard and use similar clamshell restraints, which sit at the top of a vertical bar between each rider's knees. The bar locks a padded restraint into place over the rider's lap and upper legs. A 2001 US patent for the restraint system says it is designed to make riders feel "that he is seated on a flying carpet or that he is at the controls of a kind of flying scooter, while still guaranteeing optimum security."

Goliath remains shut down while state and local officials investigate the Oct. 12 death. Witnesses said they saw Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected, and some people who rode Goliath earlier that day said they had concerns about its restraints.

Reilly's statement said Six Flags has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures for all rides at its theme parks. Other operators have also responded: SeaWorld Orlando in Florida and La Ronde in Montreal each temporarily closed one roller coaster using clamshell restraints. SeaWorld reopened its Mako coaster Tuesday after a week offline. The Associated Press has asked both companies whether they plan seat belts or other safety upgrades.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The death and the company-wide response put roller coaster restraint design under scrutiny, and the investigation's findings could influence safety practices across the industry.
Eight additional coasters at five parks remain closed, affecting visitors and ride availability while safety reviews continue.
Moves by Six Flags, SeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde show the incident has already prompted operators beyond one park to re-examine similar rides.

Background

Six Flags Over Georgia's Goliath coaster has been closed since Oct. 12, when a rider was ejected from his seat and died. The victim was identified as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta. All nine coasters taken offline were built by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss manufacturer, and use the same clamshell-style restraint. Six Flags' CEO said the company is adding seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with similar restraints, and has hired independent engineers to review safety procedures across its parks. Investigators have not said what went wrong. SeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde in Montreal also closed one coaster each after the death; SeaWorld has since reopened its Mako coaster.

What to Watch

What state and local investigators conclude about the cause of the Oct. 12 ejection, which has not been publicly determined.
When the eight additional Bolliger & Mabillard coasters will reopen, and whether seat belt installations change those timelines.
Whether SeaWorld, La Ronde and other operators follow Six Flags by adding seat belts or other upgrades to clamshell-restraint rides.

Sources

Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death · CNBC
Six Flags to Add Seatbelts on Roller Coasters After Rider’s Death · The New York Times
Six Flags to reopen Goliath rollercoaster – but now with seatbelts after recent rider death · The Guardian

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedSix Flags will add seat belts to the Georgia coaster and other coasters with similar restraints after a rider’s death.US Top News and Analysis: “The chief executive of Six Flags says the company will install seat belts on the Georgia roller coaster from which a rider fell to his death earlier this month. The company will also install the safety upgrade on rides with similar restraints.”
SupportedEight other coasters using clamshell restraints remain closed across the US and Canada.US Top News and Analysis: “But it has temporarily closed eight additional roller coasters at five other parks in the U.S. and Canada. Those rides all share the same manufacturer and a similar restraint system. Six Flags hasn't said when those coasters are expected to reopen.”
SupportedSix Flags CEO John Reilly said Friday that the company would add seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with similar restraints.US Top News and Analysis: “"We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint," John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, said in a statement Friday.”
SupportedThe announcement came less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta was ejected from his seat on Goliath on Oct. 12.US Top News and Analysis: “The theme 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 on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.”
SupportedInvestigators have not said what caused the accident.US Top News and Analysis: “Investigators haven't said what went wrong on the Georgia coaster.”
Partly supportedThe AP asked both SeaWorld and La Ronde whether they plan seat belts or other safety upgrades.US Top News and Analysis: “The Associated Press emailed the company Saturday to ask whether it plans seat belts or other safety upgrades for the coaster. The AP also emailed a La Ronde spokesperson seeking an update on its shuttered coaster.”
Partly supportedSeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde closed one clamshell-restraint coaster each in the wake of the Georgia death.US Top News and Analysis: “Following the death in Georgia, non-Six Flags theme parks SeaWorld Orlando in Florida and La Ronde in Montreal, Canada, also temporarily closed one roller coaster apiece that uses clamshell restraints.”
SupportedSeaWorld reopened its Mako coaster Tuesday after a week offline.US Top News and Analysis: “SeaWorld reopened its Mako coaster Tuesday after a week offline.”
SupportedAll nine Six Flags coasters taken offline were made by Bolliger & Mabillard and use similar clamshell restraints.US Top News and Analysis: “All nine of the Six Flags coasters taken offline were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard. They also feature similar clamshell restraints that sit at the top of a vertical bar between each rider's knees.”
SupportedWitnesses said they saw Kariem rise from his seat, fall headfirst back into the cart, and then be ejected.US Top News and Analysis: “Witnesses said they saw Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected.”
SupportedA 2001 US patent describes the restraint system as designed to make riders feel they are on a flying carpet or at the controls of a flying scooter while ensuring security.US Top News and Analysis: “The U.S. patent granted to Bolliger & Mabillard for the restraint system in 2001 says it's designed to make each rider feel "that he is seated on a flying carpet or that he is at the controls of a kind of flying scooter, while still guaranteeing optimum security."”