Six Flags could need at least three years to rebuild public confidence in the safety of its rides after a guest died at one of its parks this month, according to a crisis-management specialist. The company’s shares plunged to a record low in the wake of the fatal incident.
Hassan Kariem, a 42-year-old teacher and two-time cancer survivor, was thrown violently from his seat on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, October 12, in front of horrified visitors.
Police found Kariem unresponsive behind a haunted-house attraction prepared for the Halloween season. The father of two had reportedly struck the ride three times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Six Flags quickly suspended operations on Goliath, along with several other major roller coasters around the United States, including Nitro in New Jersey and Raging Bull in Illinois.
Investigations are being carried out independently by state officials and Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss manufacturer that built Goliath before it opened in 2006.
Atlanta teacher Hassan Kariem, 42, died in a freak roller-coaster accident at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12
Following the tragedy, Six Flags quietly changed the name of one of the live shows featured during Fright Fest, its annual Halloween event (stock image)
Regardless of what the investigations conclude, Six Flags has entered full crisis-management mode. The company is North America’s largest amusement-park operator, with properties across the United States, Mexico, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
A Six Flags spokesperson previously told Our News Outlet: “We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends and loved ones.
“The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation.”
The spokesperson added that the park was supporting those affected by the incident and would not provide further immediate comment “out of respect for the family’s privacy.”
Six Flags Over Georgia reopened four days after the death. Since then, it has quietly removed the phrase “dead man” from the name of one of its Halloween productions.
Six Flags dropped “dead man” from the title of Dr Fright’s Dead Man’s Party, a Halloween show at the park
The wording was changed on a live entertainment event staged as part of Fright Fest, the company’s annual Halloween celebration.
By Friday, Dr Fright’s Dead Man’s Party had been renamed, removing the words “dead man” from a show described as featuring “energetic entertainment, larger-than-life characters and festive surprises.”
The Six Flags Over Georgia website now lists the attraction simply as “Dr Fright’s Party.”
Goliath was previously linked to a death in July 2006, when 45-year-old Michael Corry lost consciousness at the end of the ride and died from what appeared to be a heart attack. An autopsy found a congenital heart condition, and the coaster reopened after employees determined that it was functioning properly.
The October 12 incident came as Six Flags was already under heavy scrutiny over the safety of several attractions.
In September, the company said it would shut down the X2 roller coaster at its Magic Mountain park in Valencia, California. The decision followed three lawsuits filed in August alleging that the ride could be connected to brain injuries.
Brian Oerding, the park’s president, said X2 had “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests.” However, he said Six Flags was closing the attraction “because we believe it’s the right thing to do,” adding: “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”
An investigation into the safety of the X2 rollercoaster by CNN in August documented ‘more than a dozen’ reports from riders of serious injuries and hospital visits they said were linked to going on the ride, including two fatalities.
Following the most recent tragedy, shares in Six Flags Entertainment Corporation have plunged, trading this week at around $7.24 (£5.41).
The current price marked unprecedented depths since the company merged with Cedar Fair in an £8billion deal in 2024.
Pete Davies, founder and MD of UK-based Sugar PR, a specialist in crisis management, says Six Flags will currently be following a damage limitation plan ‘word-for-word’ to try and recover trust.
He tells Our News Outlet: ‘Any company where there is any element of physical risk to members of the public, there will be a crisis containment plan within that business. They will have practised and rehearsed for this kind of major incident.
‘An organisation shouldn’t be surprised by media interest in a major public incident like this and they should be able to pull out and follow that plan, word-for-word, to execute an effective PR crisis response.’
Mr Kariem, an education technology professional at Wesley International Academy, was at the park to celebrate the 13th birthday of his fiancée’s niece, according to his future brother-in-law, Joshua Nelson, who spoke to CNN
Kariem was killed after he was thrown from his seat on the Goliath roller coaster in front of horrified passengers (stock image of the ride)
An investigation has been launched into how Mr Kariem fell to his death from the coaster, which first opened in 2006
How Six Flags responds now and in the weeks and years ahead is vital to whether the company can win back the trust of theme park goers.
Re-branding would be a disaster, says Mr Davies.
‘Rebranding is not the answer, that would be a huge risk and would be perceived by the public, the wider business community and investors as a knee-jerk reaction that is intended to put distance between Six Flags and the incident. The public are too wise.’
Mr Davies suggests that image recovery could involve ‘a minimum three-year plan’.
The PR expert explains: ‘Six Flags will be reaching out to all its stakeholders, customers, staff, commercial partners, influencers and celebrity partners, who have been associated with the brand, to reassure them that they’ve taken this incident with the utmost gravity.
‘They need to demonstrate what they are doing to restore trust in Six Flags and their parks.
‘A tragedy like this will never be forgotten but what will also be remembered is how Six Flags responded to it. If a company responds poorly to an incident, that’s what has a major impact, and people do remember it.’
Mr Kariem, an education technology professional at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, was at the park to celebrate the 13th birthday of his fiancée’s niece, according to his future brother-in-law, Joshua Nelson, who spoke to CNN.
‘His final moments and words were with her,’ said Mr Nelson. ‘She called me crying after the ride ended stating Mr Hassan fell off the ride.’
Witnesses said he flew out of his seat and collided with the ride’s metal frame a number of times before falling to the ground, leaving several of them covered in his blood.
Images of Mr Kariem falling over other passengers and flying head-first into the ride have since gone viral on social media. His family have pleaded with people to stop sharing the photos.
