Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced plans to install seatbelts on select roller coasters across its amusement parks. The safety update comes in the wake of a fatal accident and arrives as the company faces broader scrutiny over ride safety and recent lawsuits.

Roller Coaster Updates and Targeted Rides

A company spokeswoman confirmed that additional roller coasters will receive seatbelt additions:

  • Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.
  • Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, located north of Chicago.

In addition to Goliath, Six Flags stated that eight rides across five parks in Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada, are temporarily closed.

Independent Safety Reviews and Leadership Response

John Reilly, president of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, addressed the updates in a statement, noting that the company's parks hired independent engineers and inspectors to conduct comprehensive safety reviews of all rides and attractions.

"We are committed to carefully evaluating their findings and taking appropriate action to further strengthen our standards and culture of safety," Mr. Reilly said. He noted that Six Flags operates more than 220 roller coasters across its properties, adding, "We will continue to communicate about our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you."

Broader Scrutiny and Ongoing Investigations

The safety additions coincide with heightened scrutiny surrounding Six Flags operations. State authorities and the Cobb County Police Department are actively investigating the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, although no single federal agency enforces safety standards for rides like Goliath, which had passed its most recent state inspection on March 16.

Meanwhile, the company faces separate legal challenges. In September, three people filed a lawsuit against Six Flags and a ride manufacturer after reporting catastrophic brain injuries on the X2 coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. The lawsuits allege that the ride was defectively designed and lacked adequate warnings regarding serious brain injury risks. Six Flags Magic Mountain announced that the X2 would permanently close following the legal action.