Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, fell to his death while riding the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia just outside Atlanta this week, according to CNN. Several others were injured in the same incident. Six Flags temporarily closed 10 rides in seven states after the accident.
The death marks the latest crisis for Six Flags, the country's largest theme park operator, which has faced mounting scrutiny over safety at its 30 water and amusement parks across 13 states. In the last five years, safety records covering more than a dozen parks across three states reveal maintenance issues including a train derailment, faulty restraint bars and guest injuries such as dislocated joints and concussions, according to CNN's analysis of public records and court filings.
Financial pressure and deferred maintenance
Six Flags has struggled financially amid weak attendance and crushing debt following its 2024 merger with competitor Cedar Fair, according to the company's financial statements. Two investor lawsuits filed last year allege that before the merger, Six Flags officials deferred basic park maintenance, infrastructure repairs and ride updates while slashing employee headcount.
In investor calls last year cited in the lawsuits, Six Flags executives acknowledged the scope of neglected repairs. One executive described a need to invest in "deferred items" at the amusement parks, while another stated the "list is always long" for needed improvements when responding to a financial analyst's question. Six Flags has not responded to the lawsuits' claims in court.
One investor lawsuit alleges Six Flags "failed to make adequate capital investments to conduct routine facility maintenance or improve rides and attractions, and made drastic personnel cuts." The other lawsuit alleges Six Flags "had for years deferred or foregone" necessary repairs.
In a statement to CNN, Six Flags said it was "committed to rigorous ride inspection, maintenance and safety procedures that meet or exceed industry standards." The company did not comment on the specific injuries reported to state regulators but said all reported guest injuries are "taken seriously" and reviewed.
X2 closure and pattern of injuries
This week's fatal accident comes less than two weeks after Six Flags permanently closed X2, one of its most famous roller coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain. A CNN investigation this summer exposed how X2 had been linked to more than a dozen serious brain injuries, hospitalizations and even deaths over nearly two decades, despite a long history of problems.
In July, two women were rushed into emergency brain surgery six days apart after riding X2, and more than 100 injured riders came forward with brain injury claims. Six Flags closed the ride last month, attributing the decision to a loss of guest confidence in the attraction.
How common are theme park injuries?
Theme park-related accidents remain rare overall. An industry report showed roughly 1,500 injuries in 2024 across the sector. Most of these injuries were classified as related to guest behavior or medical conditions, while roughly 25 percent were caused by technical or operational issues such as mechanical problems or operator error.
Edward Pribonic, an amusement ride engineer and ride safety expert who has served as an expert witness for plaintiffs suing Six Flags, said in an email to CNN that while mechanical failure is always possible despite following industry standards, "recurring safety incide" — his statement was cut off in the available records.
The president of Six Flags Over Georgia said in a statement that the park has "a comprehensive safety program built on rigorous inspections" for each ride and is cooperating with state investigators while conducting its own review of the incident. The specific mechanical or operational cause of this week's death remains under investigation.