Six Flags to add seat belts to Goliath after fatal ejection
Six Flags plans to add seat belts to Goliath at its Georgia park after Hassan Kariem, 42, died when he was thrown from the ride on 12 October. The coaster remains closed as investigators examine what happened, and the company says the change is part of wider efforts to reinforce safety.
Six Flags chief executive John Reilly said seat belts would also be added to other coasters with similar restraints. Nine rides across five parks are temporarily closed for safety reviews, and independent engineers and ride inspection specialists will review procedures across the company’s parks. Theme park expert Robert Niles said seat belts could add a moment or two to boarding and exit times, potentially slowing queues; Goliath reaches 70 mph and rises more than 200 feet.
In short
- Six Flags will add seat belts to Goliath after a fatal accident.
- Nine rides across five parks are under safety review.
- An expert says the added checks could slow queues.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Adding seat belts could provide an extra layer of restraint and reassurance, particularly while investigators examine how a rider was ejected. Extending the change to similar rides and reviewing procedures across the parks may help identify broader safety improvements and show that the company is taking the incident seriously.
The case against
Seat belts may modestly slow boarding and exit, increasing queues, and the report does not establish whether they would have prevented this death. Decisions about restraints should be guided by investigators and engineering reviews so that any changes address the cause of the incident and work safely with each ride’s existing system.
Explained simply
Goliath is a large roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, a theme park near Atlanta in the US state of Georgia. Six Flags is a company that operates amusement parks and rides across the United States.
Roller coasters use restraints to keep riders in their seats, and the type of restraint can vary between rides. Changes to restraints and wider safety checks can affect how rides are inspected and how quickly visitors board and leave them.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Six Flags Over Georgia says it’s adding seat belts to Goliath rollercoaster after man fell to his death… as park expert warns safety measure will lead to slower lines”.