Records and Lawsuits Flag Six Flags Maintenance Concerns Before Goliath Coaster Death

Overview

Public records, state regulatory filings and court documents show that warnings about maintenance problems and ride malfunctions at multiple Six Flags parks predated the fatal ejection from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

On Monday, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was killed after being ejected from Goliath. The company temporarily closed 10 rides across seven states as investigators, company officials and state regulators review the incident.

Patterns of reported problems

Analysis of filings obtained by CNN and other public records across several states identified a range of issues at Six Flags properties over the past five years, including derailments, faulty restraints, repeated guest injuries and mechanical malfunctions. The reports span water parks and amusement parks in California, New Jersey, Texas and other jurisdictions.

Examples cited in records and complaints include:

• Train derailment at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey that caused minor injuries.
• Repeated reports of lap bars opening mid-ride, sometimes linked to broken bolts.
• Chemical exposures and hydraulic fluid incidents in California parks.
• Water-park incidents in Texas where riders were thrown from tubes, producing head trauma claims.
• El Toro, a wooden coaster with prior incidents and a period when the state deemed parts of it structurally compromised.

Corporate and industry context

Six Flags is the largest US theme-park operator, with dozens of parks nationwide. The company told CNN it is committed to rigorous inspections and that all reported injuries are reviewed. Company statements also noted that incident reports cover different parks, jurisdictions and reporting requirements, and therefore may not fully reflect the context of individual events.

But investor lawsuits filed after Six Flags merged with Cedar Fair in 2024 allege that the company deferred crucial maintenance and slashed staffing, leaving “deferred items” on long lists of needed repairs. Financial disclosures cited weak attendance and heavy debt in recent years.

Safety record and past tragedies

Industry data show that theme-park accidents are rare; an industry report counted roughly 1,500 injuries in 2024, with about one-quarter attributed to technical or operational failures. Experts say recurring mechanical problems and repeated incidents can indicate inadequate attention to manufacturer standards, maintenance schedules or operational procedures.

Six Flags has faced scrutiny before. This summer a high-profile CNN investigation tied the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain to serious brain injuries and multiple hospitalizations; the ride was later closed permanently. More than a decade ago, a guest was ejected and killed on the Texas Giant coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, a case that similarly raised questions about restraints and earlier reports of problems.

Ongoing reviews and next steps

State safety investigators are reviewing the Goliath accident in Georgia and Six Flags has said it is cooperating while conducting its own review. Regulators in some states require operators to report serious injuries and deaths, and agencies are continuing to examine records and inspections across multiple parks.

As inquiries continue, the incident has renewed attention on how major operators balance investment, staffing and maintenance across large portfolios of aging rides.

If you have information about a Six Flags ride or incident, authorities and news organizations have invited witnesses and employees to come forward as investigations proceed.