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A small metal bracket, a guest area, and no injuries. That’s how Cedar Point described the incident that closed Millennium Force on Friday, and by Saturday evening the coaster was running again. In a week when coaster safety is already in the news, the speed of the turnaround, and the questions it leaves, are worth a careful look.
A content note: this report also discusses a death at Six Flags Over Georgia. The two stories are separate, and no report we have connects them. Each claim below is attributed, and we’ve said plainly where the information runs out.
What Cedar Point Said on Friday
Cedar Point confirmed it shut down Millennium Force on Friday after a metal bracket fell from one of the ride’s cars. A park spokesperson told 3News: “Earlier today, a small bracket became dislodged from a ride vehicle and landed in a guest area. No guests or team members were struck, and no injuries were reported.”
The statement continued: “The ride was immediately taken out of service in accordance with established protocols and will remain closed as pending our internal review and additional state inspection to ensure safety before reopening to the public. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.” At that point, there was no word on when it would reopen.
The Saturday Evening Reopening
Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) posted on X that Millennium Force had reopened, adding that it returned to service on Saturday evening. He shared this statement from a park spokesperson: “The ride has resumed operations following the successful completion of maintenance inspections and all required safety checks. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”
The post repeated that no guests or team members were hit by the bracket and no injuries were reported.
UPDATE: Millennium Force has reopened at Cedar Point after a bracket dislodged and landed in a guest area. A park spokesperson released this statement about the roller coaster:
“The ride has resumed operations following the successful completion of maintenance inspections and all required safety checks. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”
No guests or team members were hit by the bracket and no injuries were reported.
Millennium Force returned to service @CedarPoint on Saturday evening.
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) October 18, 2026
Reading the Two Statements Side by Side
The information we have doesn’t say whether the state inspection mentioned Friday has been completed, and it doesn’t say what caused the bracket to come loose. We aren’t filling in those gaps.
Echoes of 2021
3News noted the episode recalls one from 2021, when a bracket piece fell from Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster and struck a Michigan guest in the head. The guest later sued, claiming a traumatic brain injury, and the two sides reached a confidential settlement in 2024, according to 3News.
The reports describe this week’s incident differently: no one was struck.
Earlier This Year on the Same Coaster
3News also noted that Millennium Force ran into issues earlier this year, when several riders claimed they could no longer fit because of shorter seatbelts. Cedar Point later acknowledged the belts had been shortened and said they would eventually be replaced.
Millennium Force opened in 2000 and was the first roller coaster in the world to top 300 feet, according to the report, which says it debuted with speeds topping out at 93 mph.
The Same Week at Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia reopened on Friday, the same day as the Cedar Point closure, after the death on Monday of a man who fell from Goliath, according to CNN. CNN named him as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, an Atlanta resident who died after falling from the coaster, according to police. CNN described him as a teacher and a “cherished member” of Wesley International Academy, a public charter school. His funeral was scheduled for Monday afternoon, according to a Facebook post from his mosque.
Four minors were injured, police said, but no further details about their condition will be released because of their age. Goliath has been closed since the incident, Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid confirmed.
Where the Georgia Investigation Stands
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said in a Thursday statement that an investigative team is reviewing evidence, equipment, and documentation to determine whether state safety requirements were followed. He plans to hold a news conference next week with an update.
No findings were released at a Friday news conference. Cupid said verified information would be shared “when it is appropriate.” “Agencies are still active and need space to do the work without speculation,” she said, adding, “Our community deserves a fact-based review, a thorough review with clear answers when the responsible agencies are able to give them.”
What the Records Show
CNN reported that safety records from 2016 to 2026 show Goliath appears to have passed annual state safety inspections. King said, “Goliath’s most recent OCI inspection occurred on March 16, 2026. No violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags were reported during that inspection.”
Records also show some issues, including an inspection report earlier this year that noted the ride’s bushings needed replacement. Bushings are components that help reduce vibration, according to WSB. CNN has asked Six Flags where they’re located.
Closures Elsewhere
A Six Flags spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday that at least 10 roller coasters across six other locations in the U.S. and Canada are closed “out of an abundance of caution.” Earlier reporting counted 10 coasters in total, and the information we have doesn’t reconcile the two counts.
What Visitors Told CNN
Some parkgoers told CNN they weren’t deterred from returning on Friday. One mother who visits two or three times a week said, “It’s Fright Night! I mean, honest to God, if the Goliath was open tonight, I would ride that Goliath.” A Texas grandmother said, “I feel bad for the family. My heart goes out to them, but you know, accidents happen.”
A Professor’s Comment, With a Caveat
Brian Avery, a University of Florida professor who specializes in ride safety, called Bolliger & Mabillard’s safety record “stellar.” He also said Goliath has a waist restraint but no over-the-shoulder harness, a secondary restraint he believes should be considered. “If you have your primary fail, what are you left with? Yeah, nothing,” he said.
That’s a general comment, and it isn’t a finding about what happened on Monday. The cause hasn’t been determined. Bolliger & Mabillard called the accident “tragic” and said it is investigating, but would have no further comment “until we have a better understanding of what transpired.”
Before You Visit Any Park
Neither report mentions Disney, and we aren’t suggesting any Disney attractions are affected. For any park on your itinerary, check its official page for ride status before you go, and take posted closures seriously.
Our thoughts are with Kariem’s family and everyone affected. Are you changing how you plan park days this fall? Tell us in the comments, and we’ll keep following both stories as officials share more.
