Government records reveal safety failures at Six Flags parks

A CNN analysis of public records found hundreds of injury reports and maintenance issues at Six Flags parks in the years before this week's fatal accident at its Georgia location.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after falling from the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta this week. Six Flags subsequently closed 10 rides across seven states. According to CNN's analysis of public records and court filings, the company has faced numerous safety accusations over the past five years, including mechanical failures, faulty restraint bars, and guest injuries such as dislocated joints, concussions, and broken bones.

Six Flags, the country's largest theme park operator with 30 parks in 13 states, has struggled financially following a 2024 merger with Cedar Fair. Two investor lawsuits filed last year allege the company deferred basic maintenance and ride improvements while cutting employees. A Six Flags executive referenced needing to invest in 'deferred items' during investor calls cited in the lawsuits.

The company has faced heightened scrutiny after CNN's investigation exposed the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, linked to more than a dozen serious brain injuries and deaths over nearly two decades. Six Flags closed the ride permanently last month after two women underwent emergency brain surgery in July and over 100 injured riders filed claims. An amusement ride engineer noted that recurring safety incidents typically indicate insufficient attention to maintenance standards or budget constraints.