At least 11 roller coasters across the United States and Canada have been closed as a precaution after a rider fell to his death from a Six Flags attraction in Georgia on Monday.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was aboard the Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia with his son when the fatal incident occurred. His wife and young daughter were waiting below. Kariem was reportedly ejected from his seat, struck several sections of the ride and fell to his death.
The Goliath, the tallest roller coaster in Georgia, has been closed indefinitely while the incident is investigated. Six Flags has also suspended operations on an identical ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority,” Six Flags spokesperson Sara Gorgon said in a statement to The Daily Mail.
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has also closed the Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Michigan, the Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, and Canada’s Wonderland’s Leviathan and Behemoth in Ontario. The Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in South Carolina, along with Orion and Diamondback at King’s Island USA in Ohio, have also been taken offline.
WFTV reported that SeaWorld Orlando has likewise closed its Mako roller coaster.
Every coaster named above, including the Goliath involved in Monday’s death, was manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc., commonly known as B&M.
A rider fell to his death from a Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster on Monday, prompting theme parks in the US and Canada to suspend operations on similar attractions as a precaution
Hassan Kariem, 42, worked as an IT specialist for Atlanta’s public school system and was the father of two children
Both Six Flags Goliath coasters have been closed following Hassan Kariem’s death at the Georgia theme park on Monday
B&M, a roller coaster manufacturer headquartered in Monthey, Switzerland, has built numerous attractions across the United States.
Several of the company’s rides remain open despite the closures triggered by Monday’s tragedy.
Busch Gardens operates multiple B&M coasters at each of its two US theme parks.
At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, B&M manufactured Montu, SheiKra and Kumba. The company also built Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia.
All four attractions are expected to remain open.
Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been involved in two notable malfunctions since opening in 2007.
In 2024, the ride stopped during its operation and left park visitors stranded for more than two hours, according to WTKR.
A Busch Gardens spokesperson told The Daily Mail in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those involved in the tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia.”
Six Flags Over Georgia has closed its Goliath roller coaster after a man fell to his death from the ride on Monday
Carowinds, a Six Flags-owned theme park in South Carolina, closed two B&M roller coasters as a precaution
Busch Gardens will keep its B&M manufactured rollercoasters open, the park said in a statement
‘The safety of our guests and team members is a top priority. Our safety staff and ride technicians strive to maintain and deliver attractions that our guests can enjoy with confidence. That work includes regular ride inspections and ongoing collaboration with ride manufacturers and other engineering and safety experts.’
Another Busch Gardens representative said in a conversation with The Daily Mail: ‘[The incident] is at another organization, we don’t have any comments or anything further we could provide because it does not belong to us within our parks.’
‘Every ride has the same risk of someone being ejected,’ Attorney Michael Haggard told WESH. Haggard’s law firm specializes in accidental deaths including those involving rollercoaster accidents.
‘I would be very concerned,’ he told the outlet, ‘the question surrounds itself as ‘Are these restraint systems proper?’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Busch Gardens and Six Flags Entertainment for further comment.
