October 17, 2026: Cedar Point has shut down its Millennium Force roller coaster in Sandusky, Ohio, after a metal bracket detached from a ride vehicle and fell into an area accessible to visitors. No injuries were reported, but the attraction remains closed pending safety inspections.
The shutdown comes days after a fatal accident at Six Flags Over Georgia, where Atlanta educator Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster. The Georgia park reopened Friday, October 16, although Goliath remains closed during the investigation.
Both parks are operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Authorities have not established any connection between the incidents, which have raised separate questions about ride maintenance, passenger restraints and safety oversight.
Millennium Force Closed After Metal Bracket Falls Into Guest Area
The Cedar Point incident occurred Friday, October 16, when a small metal bracket became dislodged from a Millennium Force ride vehicle.
Six Flags spokesperson Sara Gordon confirmed that the component landed in a guest area without striking anyone. Park officials stopped the ride and initiated safety checks.
Millennium Force will remain closed until Cedar Point completes its review and state inspectors determine whether it can safely resume operations. The cause of the bracket’s detachment has not been publicly established.
The roller coaster, which opened in 2000, features a 310-foot lift hill and reaches speeds of approximately 93 mph. It is one of Cedar Point’s most prominent attractions.
Six Flags Over Georgia Reopens After Fatal Goliath Accident
Six Flags Over Georgia reopened at approximately 6 p.m. Friday for its scheduled Fright Fest Halloween event, four days after the deadly Goliath incident on October 12.
Kariem, a longtime employee of Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, was visiting the park with relatives to celebrate his niece’s 13th birthday.
He had worked at the school for more than 12 years as a technology teacher, IT manager and robotics coach.
According to Cobb County Police, preliminary witness accounts indicate Kariem was ejected from the moving roller coaster, struck other passengers and fell beneath the ride.
Four juveniles suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening and were transported to hospitals.
Goliath remains closed, and Six Flags has not announced a reopening date.
Family Questions Goliath Restraints as Investigation Continues
Kariem’s family has raised concerns about the roller coaster’s passenger restraint system.
His niece, reportedly seated beside him, told relatives that he appeared to lose consciousness before his restraint came loose. Investigators have not independently confirmed that account.
Goliath opened in 2006 and reaches speeds of approximately 70 mph, with a first drop of about 200 feet. The attraction uses padded lap-bar restraints.
Georgia inspection records show the roller coaster underwent its annual state inspection on March 16, 2026, without formal violations. Earlier maintenance notes referenced bushings, but authorities have not connected those observations to the accident.
Cobb County Police and Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are investigating. No official cause has been announced.
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Nine Other Roller Coasters Temporarily Closed Across Six Flags Parks
Following the fatal accident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine additional roller coasters across six parks in North America as a precaution.
The affected attractions included:
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America, Illinois
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
- Diamondback and Orion at Kings Island, Ohio
- Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds, North Carolina and South Carolina
The precautionary closures do not establish that those attractions are unsafe or defective. Individual reopening decisions depend on inspection results.
Previous Cedar Point Accidents Renew Attention on Ride Safety
The Millennium Force shutdown follows earlier incidents involving detached roller coaster components at Cedar Point.
In June 2026, a metal washer reportedly detached from the Magnum XL-200 roller coaster’s lift mechanism. No injuries were reported.
In August 2021, guest Rachel Hawes suffered a serious brain injury after being struck by a metal component from Top Thrill Dragster. Ohio investigators later found insufficient evidence to establish a violation of state ride safety laws.
These incidents involved different attractions, and no connection to the latest Millennium Force shutdown has been established.
Separate safety concerns have also emerged in the Six Flags X2 roller coaster injury lawsuits, which raised questions about passenger injuries and amusement ride operations.
Latest Cedar Point and Six Flags Ride Status
As of October 17, Millennium Force at Cedar Point and Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia remain closed, with no confirmed reopening dates.
Six Flags Over Georgia has resumed scheduled park operations, but the reopening does not mean Goliath has received clearance.
Visitors should check official park announcements before travelling and report any concerns about restraints or ride equipment to employees.
Additional reporting on the precautionary Six Flags roller coaster closures provides context on the wider operational impact.
According to Cleveland 19’s report on the Cedar Point shutdown, the company confirmed that the detached bracket caused no injuries and that the attraction would undergo additional inspections.
Investigators have not established the causes of either incident. Further findings will determine whether corrective measures are necessary before the affected attractions reopen.
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