Six Flags closes 10 rides after 42-year-old man falls to his death in Georgia. Then experts reveal what the company allegedly ignored: ‘incompetence’

Six Flags has temporarily closed 10 rides across seven states following a tragic accident at Six Flags Over Georgia, where 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem fell to his death while riding the Goliath rollercoaster. This incident has reignited serious questions about the company’s maintenance practices and overall commitment to safety, especially as public records and court filings reveal a pattern of dangerous malfunctions and injuries at its parks over the last five years, CNN reports.

While Six Flags maintains that it is committed to rigorous ride inspection, maintenance and safety procedures that meet or exceed industry standards, the company has faced significant scrutiny recently. Financial records show that Six Flags has struggled with weak attendance and crushing debt following a 2024 merger with competitor Cedar Fair.

Investor lawsuits filed last year allege that officials slashed employee headcount and put off basic infrastructure repairs and ride updates to save money. One lawsuit claims the company failed to make adequate capital investments to conduct routine facility maintenance, while another alleges that Six Flags had for years deferred or foregone necessary repairs.

The internal pressure to cut costs appears to have had real-world consequences

In investor calls cited in the lawsuits, a Six Flags executive mentioned the need to invest in deferred items, and another admitted the list is always long for needed improvements. Edward Pribonic, an amusement ride engineer and expert witness who has testified for plaintiffs suing the company, noted that recurring safety incidents typically point to a lack of attention to standards. According to Pribonic, these issues usually stem from budget constraints or incompetence.

The breadth of these maintenance issues is concerning. Records from California show that regulators have received nearly 300 accident reports from Six Flags parks since 2021, ranging from chemical burns and concussions to dislocated joints.

Meanwhile, at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, state records documented a 2024 train derailment caused by equipment failure and repeated instances of lap bars opening mid-ride. The park’s El Toro wooden roller coaster was even deemed structurally compromised by the state in 2022 after a violent jolt injured more than a dozen people.

This week’s tragedy in Georgia also comes on the heels of the high-profile permanent closure of the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain. That ride was shuttered last month after reports linked it to more than a dozen serious brain injuries and over 100 injury claims from riders. Despite a long history of problems, the ride remained open for nearly two decades before the company finally pulled the plug.

Six Flags has pushed back against these findings, arguing that reports spanning multiple parks and years do not provide the full context surrounding any individual event. The president of Six Flags Over Georgia stated that the park has a comprehensive safety program built on rigorous inspections and is currently cooperating with state investigators.

As the company conducts its own review of the Georgia incident, the combination of financial strain and a mounting list of safety reports continues to paint a troubling picture for one of the country’s largest theme park operators.