The global attractions industry is responding after a man died and several others were injured in a roller coaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday (12 October).
Police have identified the victim of the fatal accident as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who fell to his death after being ejected from his seat on the attraction.
Authorities and Six Flags have not identified the coaster, but witnesses told local media they saw a man falling from the park's Goliath ride.
IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, has shared an official statement in response to the incident.
IAAPA response
Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of IAAPA, said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia.
"On behalf of IAAPA and the global attractions community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts are also with guests, park employees, first responders, and all those impacted by this tragedy."
He added: "We understand that Six Flags is working with local authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we respect that process as they work to determine the facts.
"At this time, our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss."
IAAPA said safety "remains a fundamental priority for the attractions industry", adding that it has conducted its annual North America Ride Safety Report in partnership with the National Safety Council since 2002.
Theme park safety
The 2024 report shows "modest increases in injury rates" compared to 2023 but the long-term data "continues to demonstrate a gradual decline in injuries per million attendees", it said.
"These findings reinforce the importance of ongoing safety monitoring, research, and continuous improvement," IAAPA added.
The 2024 report found that an estimated 1.92 billion guest rides occurred in 2024 in North America, with guest behaviour contributing to 66 percent of injuries over the past year.
Just 9 percent of injuries, on average, were put down to operational factors and 15 percent to technical factors, the report found.
Additionally, fewer than half of ride injuries in North America were associated with coasters in 2024.
SeaWorld Orlando has closed its Mako coaster after a man died at Six Flags Over Georgia SeaWorld
Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, Goliath opened in 2006 and boasts an elevation of 200 feet, a 170-foot plunge, and speeds of up to 70 mph.
The manufacturer said it is "actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened".
Nine coasters across six other Six Flags parks have been temporarily closed “out of an abundance of caution”, a Six Flags spokesperson confirmed (via CNN).
Elsewhere, SeaWorld Orlando has closed its Mako coaster, which is from the same manufacturer as Goliath.
A SeaWorld Orlando spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly that the ride is "temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution".
