Six Flags shares fall 12.4% after fatal accident and closure of 9 roller coasters
Key Facts
Six Flags shares fell 12.4% to $10.44 in morning trading on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, following a fatal roller coaster accident in Georgia and the suspension of similar rides, according to Investing.com. The stock hit a 52-week low, according to the report published Tuesday morning. The company had temporarily closed 9 roller coasters at 6 parks, according to ITV. Those closures covered other parks, in addition to the shutdown of the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, where the accident occurred. A company spokesperson told CBS: "Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar rides at our parks."
Cobb County police identified the deceased as Hassan Jihad Ibn Karim, 42, of Atlanta. Police said preliminary information indicated he was ejected from the ride and struck other riders before falling beneath it. Officials confirmed that 4 other people were injured in the incident, according to WSB-TV. The Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire said it was investigating the accident, which occurred on October 12. The office said in a statement: "The Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is actively investigating the tragic incident that occurred on October 12."
The earliest documented price moves on Monday evening showed the company's shares down 8.8% in extended trading, according to Investing.com. The price stood at $10.87 at 20:39 U.S. Eastern time. Tuesday morning's reading of $10.44 followed that evening's extended-session reading. The stock had weakened before the accident, with the website reporting on September 28, 2026, that it had reached $11.97. That price marked a 52-week low at the time, before the new low was set in trading on October 13.
The accident came after Six Flags reported second-quarter revenue of $865 million, compared with $930 million in the comparable period, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Reported revenue fell by $65 million, or 7.0%, year on year. The company had sold 7 parks to EPR Properties before the start of the 2026 operating season, and its same-park measure excludes results from sold and closed locations. On a same-park basis, attendance rose 4% to 13.1 million visits in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 12.7 million visits in the comparable period of 2025. The company's net debt stood at $4.9 billion at the end of the second quarter, according to the same filing.
Goliath's official page identifies Bolliger & Mabillard as the manufacturer of the ride at the Georgia park. The page says the roller coaster opened in 2006. Six Flags had warned in its annual report that accidents at its parks or those of competitors could reduce attendance. The company added that such accidents could increase insurance premiums or self-insured retention levels. It said in the same warning that these factors could adversely affect operating results.
As of Tuesday, October 13, how the rider came out of his seat remained unresolved, according to the Associated Press. Whether there was a problem with his restraint system remained among the unanswered questions that day. At Six Flags Great America, reopening the Raging Bull roller coaster requires a safety inspection by state authorities, according to an Axios report published on October 13. The ride was among those closed following the Georgia accident. No timetable had been announced for reopening the affected rides, according to the Investing.com report published Tuesday morning.