Six Flags is facing another troubling safety incident after a metal bracket broke loose from a roller coaster at Cedar Point in Ohio and landed in an area where guests were sitting. Nobody was injured, but the latest malfunction comes just days after a man fell to his death at another Six Flags park, adding to a growing list of incidents that may have thrill-seekers reconsidering their next ride.
The latest incident happened Friday, October 16, on Millennium Force, one of Cedar Point’s signature roller coasters in Sandusky, Ohio. A small metal bracket detached from one of the ride’s cars and dropped into a guest area, prompting park officials to shut down the attraction.
Two visitors from Michigan, Ryan Rowton and Matt Bickley, told local television station WJW that they were relaxing in a VIP lounge near the attraction when they noticed something falling. The metal piece reportedly struck the ground, bounced, and landed in a chair beside them.
Fortunately, neither man was struck. They alerted park employees, who responded to the situation.
Millennium Force stands approximately 310 feet tall and reaches speeds of 93 mph, according to Cedar Point’s official specifications. Since opening in 2000, the attraction has become one of the park’s most recognizable roller coasters.
The attraction reopened Saturday evening after officials completed maintenance inspections and required safety checks.
“The ride has resumed operations following the successful completion of maintenance inspections and all required safety checks,” a Cedar Point spokesperson told People. “The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”
Although the company cleared Millennium Force to reopen, officials have not publicly established what caused the bracket to detach.
The latest Six Flags roller coaster incident comes at an especially difficult moment for the company, which has faced a deadly accident, multiple attraction shutdowns, and lawsuits involving alleged injuries.
On October 12, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. According to CBS News Atlanta, preliminary findings from the Cobb County Police Department indicated that Kariem struck other passengers before falling beneath the attraction.
Four minors were also injured during the incident, according to local authorities.
Kariem worked as an IT manager at Wesley International Academy, an Atlanta charter school. His death devastated his school community and prompted a major investigation into what happened aboard the popular attraction.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire confirmed that Goliath passed its March 16 inspection without any reported violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags. Investigators are now examining the ride’s equipment, operating procedures, and records to determine what caused the fatal incident.
Goliath remains closed while that investigation continues.
The tragedy also triggered precautionary closures across the amusement park industry. According to the Associated Press, Six Flags temporarily shut down nine additional roller coasters across six parks, including attractions at Kings Island, Carowinds, Canada’s Wonderland, and Six Flags Great Adventure. Other operators also suspended rides with similar designs.
Some witnesses raised concerns about Goliath’s restraint system before Kariem’s death. One mother told the AP that her children encountered a restraint that repeatedly unlocked approximately an hour before the fatal accident. Investigators have not determined whether a restraint malfunction caused Kariem’s fall.
Six Flags is also dealing with the fallout from another deadly case at its Magic Mountain park in California.
In August, the company reached a settlement with the family of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old who died in June 2022 after riding the X2 roller coaster. Hawley experienced severe bleeding in his brain after the ride and died the following day. His family alleged that the attraction caused his fatal injuries. Six Flags had disputed the allegations.
The settlement came as additional riders filed lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries connected to X2.
One case involves Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, who suffered massive bleeding in her brain after riding the attraction in July 2026. The AP reported in September that the 25-year-old remained hospitalized in a vegetative state after emergency brain surgery.
On September 29, Six Flags announced that X2 would close permanently, acknowledging that public confidence in the attraction had suffered despite the company’s position that the ride had passed repeated safety tests.
Legal trouble extends beyond roller coasters.
According to TMZ, Simon Kasawa recently filed a lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain, alleging that he suffered significant injuries on the CraZanity attraction when an operator activated a mechanical harness before he was fully seated.
Kasawa is seeking damages for alleged negligence and product liability. His allegations have not been established in court.
Meanwhile, the AP reports that a separate investor class action filed in 2025 accused Six Flags of concealing neglected park maintenance and operational problems before its merger with Cedar Fair. Those allegations remain distinct from the investigations into the recent accidents, and they do not establish what caused either incident.
Taken together, the reports present a difficult picture for anyone considering a Six Flags roller coaster right now.
Six Flags maintains that guest safety is its highest priority.
