Six Flags safety records reportedly show ride failures and injuries

A CNN review of state records found hundreds of injury reports and ride malfunctions at Six Flags parks. It comes days after a deadly accident on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Six Flags is facing new questions about ride safety.

A CNN review of public records and court filings found hundreds of reports of guest injuries and ride malfunctions at Six Flags parks over the last five years. The records cover more than a dozen parks in California, New Jersey and Texas.

The report, published Thursday, Oct. 15, comes days after a rider died on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, Oct. 12.

What did CNN find in Six Flags safety records?

A long list of problems. The records include a 2024 train derailment, lap bars opening during rides, and injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and dislocated joints, CNN reported.

In California, state regulators received nearly 300 accident reports from Six Flags parks since 2021. CNN said details on each case were limited, and some may have involved heat or riders’ health conditions.

At Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, riders had to be evacuated from the park’s log ride seven times because of problems like boats jamming. In Texas, many reports involved water park rides.

What did Six Flags say about the CNN report?

Six Flags said it is “committed to rigorous ride inspection, maintenance and safety procedures“ that meet or beat industry standards.

The company also said all reported guest injuries are taken seriously and reviewed. It warned that the reports span many parks, years, and states with different reporting rules, so broad conclusions “may not provide the full context.”

Which Six Flags rides are closed right now?

Goliath and several similar coasters. After Monday’s accident, Six Flags temporarily closed 10 rides across seven parks “out of an abundance of caution,” according to Insurance Journal.

One of them is Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure, CBS News reported. Six Flags hasn’t released the full list.

Six Flags Over Georgia is set to reopen Friday, Oct. 16, but Goliath will stay closed. “We do not have an anticipated reopening date at this time,” a park spokesperson told ABC News.

Who is investigating the Goliath accident?

Two agencies. Cobb County Police are investigating the death, and Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which oversees ride safety in the state, is doing its own review, ABC News reported.

Six Flags said it is cooperating fully. The park is also doing its own review of what happened.

Has Six Flags been accused of skipping maintenance?

In court, yes. Two investor lawsuits filed last year claim Six Flags put off basic park maintenance and ride updates before its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair, CNN reported.

Six Flags hasn’t responded to those claims in court. The company has also struggled with weak attendance and heavy debt since the merger, according to its financial statements.

Six Flags stock fell 17 percent on Tuesday after the accident, Insurance Journal reported, citing Bloomberg News.

What happened to the X2 roller coaster?

It closed for good last month. X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California was linked to more than a dozen serious brain injuries, according to an earlier CNN investigation.

Six Flags permanently closed the ride in September, citing a loss of guest confidence.

How common are theme park injuries?

They’re still rare. An industry report counted roughly 1,500 theme park injuries in 2024, CNN reported.

Most were linked to guest behavior or health conditions. About 25 percent were caused by technical or operating problems, like a broken ride part or an operator mistake.

Ride safety expert Edward Pribonic, who has worked as an expert witness for people suing Six Flags, told CNN that repeated failures “usually point to a lack of attention to standards.”

What should guests know before visiting Six Flags?

Check the park’s app or website before you go, since some coasters are temporarily closed. Six Flags operates about 30 parks in 13 states, so closures may affect more than one trip.

CNN said it has asked Georgia and other states for more ride records, and more information could come out as investigators finish their work.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• CNN, Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken and Curt Devine (Oct. 15, 2026), the safety records review, lawsuits, Six Flags’ statements, X2, industry injury data and Edward Pribonic’s quote

• Insurance Journal (Oct. 14, 2026), the 10 ride closures, “abundance of caution” statement and stock drop, citing Bloomberg News

• CBS News (Oct. 13, 2026), the Nitro closure

• ABC News (Oct. 14, 2026), the Friday reopening, Goliath status and state investigation

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