Six Flags orders lap belt upgrades after rider falls 165 feet in Georgia

A 165-foot vertical drop claimed a life at Six Flags Over Georgia this month, prompting the amusement park operator to replace the waist-only restraints on its Goliath rollercoaster with full seatbelts. The incident involved Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old educator and father, who was ejected from his seat during the ride's initial descent. Witnesses reported that Kariem struck adjacent cars as he fell.

The fall occurred on a coaster engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard, which features a second plunge of 180 feet. Following the tragedy, Georgia authorities launched an investigation. Six Flags temporarily suspended operations for Goliath and eight other attractions across five parks. The company also initiated an independent review of safety protocols for all its rides to assess current procedures.

John Reilly, the chief executive of Six Flags, announced the retrofit plan in a statement on Friday. He confirmed that seatbelts will be added to other coasters utilizing the same restraint system, although he did not list the specific rides affected. "What happened has deeply affected all of us at Six Flags," Reilly wrote. "Safety has always been fundamental to the experience we provide for our guests."

Reilly emphasized that the company would prioritize actions over rhetoric to rebuild public confidence. "I know trust is earned through actions and not words," he said. "We will continue to communicate about our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you."

The upgrade comes amid ongoing legal challenges for the company. A group of former riders is suing Six Flags for negligence and a defective design related to the X2 coaster at Magic Mountain. Court documents allege that the park kept the ride in operation despite a history of brain injuries and at least two deaths. Six Flags permanently closed the X2 coaster in September.

The Georgia incident marks a critical shift in the company's safety strategy. By moving from lap bars to seatbelts on high-speed drops, Six Flags is altering the hardware design for a class of coasters that previously relied on the Bolliger & Mabillard waist restraint system. The independent safety review is scheduled to cover all current attractions in the portfolio.