Six Flags Goliath roller coaster death sparks design questions

The roller coaster from which a father fell to his death at Six Flags Over Georgia may have had a design feature built in that contributed to the tragedy.

The Goliath ‘gigacoaster’ is has attracted controversy ever since the horrific incident, and the inquest into what happened has only just begun.

Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia remains closed

The 42-year-old man, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was ejected from his seat aboard the ride, hitting and injuring other passengers as he fell before crashing to the ground below.

He was at the park with his family, some of whom were watching the ride from below, while it is believed his son was on the coaster with him.

Goliath is a ‘gigacoaster’ that is capable of reaching speeds up to 112.7km per hour and has a sheer drop of 200 feet.

During the ride, those on board are flipped upside down, turn loops and corkscrews and experience - as the park’s website puts it - ‘weightlessness’.

After this tragedy, Six Flags closed down nine coasters similar to Goliath as a precaution, and the ride’s manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard said it was ‘actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until [it has] a better understanding of what happened.'

Passengers were pictured stuck on the Goliath ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. Credit: CBS Texas

One feature of Goliath has attracted attention

One specific thing that has caused people to question whether the ride itself played a part in the death is the fact that riders are expected to feel weighless at points during the ride.

That means that as the ride drops, the passengers are lifted out of their seats and feel as if they are flying.

On the Six Flags website, it is stated: "As you shoot up and over the next hill, enjoy a moment of pure weightlessness before gravity yanks you down into your seat. "Prepare to repeat this experience several more times through a series of intense high-speed banked turns along 4,500 feet of ruthless track.”

That featured has caused some attention, with one person posting: “That roller coaster in Atlanta was a disaster waiting to happen!”

However, another person followed up: “[It’s] designed to let you feel weightless. This is normal, notice how he didnt fall out of his seat and didnt feel in danger.”

Another person wrote: "Maybe don’t design a ride like that. Rather feel secure than weightless”

Hassan Kariem was killed at Six Flags Over Georgia. Credit: Facebook/Hassan Kariem

‘Loophole’ could have caused an issue for the ride

There are laws and pieces of regulation for roller coasters in the USA, but they are exempt from federal regulation, meaning it is entirely up to the state to govern them.

That means that there exists many different standards and rules regarding roller coasters across the country.

It has been posited that a ‘loophole’ exists which means officials inspect the rides, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission is not permitted.

Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner has said it will lead an ‘in-depth and comprehensive review’ into this incident.

Despite this tragedy, odds of being injured on a ride such as this are extremely low - around one in 15.5 million.

Featured image credit: CBS Texas