More than a week after a man was thrown to his death from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, state investigators say the ride passed its most recent safety inspection with a clean record — a finding that is only deepening questions about how the fatal malfunction happened.

The victim, identified by authorities as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was ejected from the ride on Oct. 12 and fell to the ground below, according to Cobb County police. Four other riders, including minors, were injured in the same incident. Witnesses described seeing Kariem come out of his seat and strike parts of the ride's structure before hitting the ground, and the coaster came to a stop with other passengers still trapped on the track until emergency crews could evacuate them.

A clean inspection record

Georgia's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which oversees amusement-ride safety in the state, says Goliath's most recent annual inspection — conducted March 16, 2026 — turned up zero violations, citations or deficiencies, according to state officials cited in multiple reports. That finding has become a central and uncomfortable fact in the investigation: a ride cleared as fully compliant seven months earlier failed in a way that killed a guest.

The commissioner's office says its investigators are now examining the ride itself, its maintenance and operating records, and digital data from the coaster's control systems. Officials have stressed they won't be rushed. State investigators have said they intend to take as much time as necessary to thoroughly examine every piece of physical and digital evidence before drawing conclusions, and that any violations uncovered will trigger enforcement action under Georgia law.

Six Flags' response

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which operates the Austell, Georgia park along with dozens of others nationwide, temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six of its parks immediately after the incident "out of an abundance of caution," a company spokesperson said. The Goliath coaster itself remains out of service while the state investigation continues. The company has said it is "deeply saddened" by what it called the guest incident and is supporting affected guests and staff.

A RIDE CLEARED AS FULLY COMPLIANT JUST SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER FAILED IN A WAY THAT KILLED A GUEST.

Goliath, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, opened at the park in 2006 and is among the tallest and fastest coasters in the Southeast, with a drop of more than 200 feet and top speeds near 70 mph. According to attorneys who track amusement-park litigation, the Oct. 12 death would be at least the seventh fatality connected to the Georgia park over its history, including a 2006 incident in which a rider suffered a fatal medical emergency on the same ride.

What's next

No cause has been officially confirmed, and police say the investigation remains open. Six Flags has not said when — or whether — Goliath will reopen. Georgia's insurance commissioner has not set a timeline for completing the probe, and any findings of wrongdoing could expose the park to regulatory penalties as well as civil litigation from the victim's family.