Amusement park operators in the United States and Canada suspended operations on 12 roller coasters this week following a fatal incident in Georgia. On Monday, October 12, 2026, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem fell to his death from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The park, located in Austell, is scheduled to reopen while the Goliath ride remains closed pending an investigation by police and state regulators.
The investigation follows witness reports of Ibn Kariem being ejected from the coaster. Ten of the 12 recently closed rides were produced by the same Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, and utilize a similar "clamshell" restraint design. This system consists of a vertical bar between the rider's knees that locks a padded bar over the lap and upper legs. While the Georgia Goliath ride does not include secondary safety measures like seat belts, it is currently unclear if the other ten closed rides feature them.
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, SeaWorld Orlando in Florida and La Ronde theme park in Montreal confirmed they had temporarily halted specific attractions. La Ronde representatives stated their Goliath coaster is offline for a safety review conducted in collaboration with the manufacturer. Bolliger & Mabillard declined to answer questions regarding the suspensions on Thursday. Brian D. Avery, an amusement ride safety expert from the University of Florida, noted that while he recommends secondary restraints, the industry continues to debate their impact on passenger wait times.
This safety investigation affects visitors at theme parks in at least two U.S. states and one Canadian province. With 12 roller coasters currently out of service, attendees at locations like SeaWorld Orlando and Six Flags Over Georgia are unable to access headline attractions. The incident represents a loss for the family of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem and the school community in Atlanta where he worked.
The shutdown involves 12 specific rides across North America, ten of which share a manufacturer. The closure of these attractions impacts the operations of the parks. A visitor to these parks will notice certain rides standing idle. The investigation is seeking to determine what caused the ejection from a ride that reaches speeds of 70 miles per hour and heights of 200 feet.
The findings of this probe could lead to the use of secondary safety restraints, such as seat belts, for "clamshell" restraint systems. Six Flags Over Georgia is set to reopen its gates, but the Goliath ride will remain closed while authorities and the manufacturer continue their review. The specific dates for the conclusion of the safety probes or the reopening of the 12 suspended rides have not been reported.