Theme parks across the country closed roller coasters in the wake of Monday’s tragic death at Six Flags Over Georgia — including SeaWorld Orlando, which said Tuesday its Mako coaster had been shut down.
Mako was built by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, the same firm that made the Six Flags coaster Goliath. Authorities say 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died on Monday after being thrown from his seat onto other passengers before landing below the attraction.
Authorities and Six Flags did not identify the roller coaster, but Goliath was named by witnesses and local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the coaster.
SeaWorld Orlando spokespersons said that while Mako wasn’t running Tuesday, all of its other rides were still operational. They added the decision to close the coaster was made out of an abundance of caution.
“The safety of our guests and team members is a top priority. Our safety staff and ride technicians strive to maintain and deliver attractions that our guests can enjoy with confidence,” SeaWorld Orlando said. “That work includes regular ride inspections and ongoing collaboration with ride manufacturers and other engineering and safety experts.”
SeaWorld Orlando declined to comment on how long Mako would be closed.
Both Mako and Goliath are considered hypercoasters, a specialty of Bolliger & Mabillard that feature a series of high drops designed to lift passengers out of their seats as the cars go over hills, with Mako traveling up to 73 mph and 200 feet high and Goliath up to 70 mph and 200 feet high. Both also have a similar lap bar restraint system without shoulder restraints.
A witness, Logan Conner, said he was on the Goliath coaster in Atlanta with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.
“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he told NBC. “We made direct eye contact with him.”
Britny Landry had been on the ride earlier Monday and was waiting in line to go again. She could see part of the Goliath track.
“We just look, and I just see somebody fly out,” she told KTVU-TV.
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. said after Kariem’s death that it temporarily shut down nine similar roller coasters at six of its theme parks in the U.S. and Canada.
Guests ride the revamped Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel)
Bolliger & Mabillard have also built other coasters in Central Florida, including The Incredible Hulk at Universal Islands of Adventure, three rides besides Mako at SeaWorld Orlando and SheiKra and several other coasters at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, according to the manufacturing company’s website.
Universal Orlando Resort did not immediately return as request for comment Tuesday about whether it would shut down The Incredible Hulk or other coasters at its theme parks.
The Atlanta death also comes less than two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California announced the retirement of its famous X2 roller coaster following lawsuits alleging serious brain injury caused by the ride. The park settled one wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding the coaster in 2022.
Last year, a 32-year-old Kissimmee man, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, died from blunt impact injuries after riding the Stardust Racers coaster at Universal Epic Universe. His death was ruled accidental. A Georgia woman sued Universal in August claiming her 9-year-old son suffered permanent injuries on Stardust Racers last year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.