Incidents at Six Flags parks

The following article is a summary of notable incidents at the amusement parks and water parks that are operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. In some cases, these incidents occurred while the park was under different management or ownership.

This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly noteworthy. The term ''incidents'' refers to major accidents, injuries, or deaths that occur at a park. While these incidents were required to be reported to regulatory authorities due to where they occurred, they usually fall into one of the following categories:
# Caused by negligence on the part of the guest. This can be a refusal to follow specific ride safety instructions, or deliberate intent to violate park rules.
# The result of a guest's known, or unknown, health issues.
# Negligence on the part of the park, either by ride operator or maintenance safety instructions, or deliberate intent to violate park rules.
# Natural disaster or a generic accident (''e.g.'', lightning strike, slipping and falling), that is not a direct result of an action on anybody's part.

La Ronde

Le Vampire

*On July 6, 2012, a 67-year-old employee of the park was killed at ''Le Vampire''. The employee was reportedly found underneath the attraction in a restricted area, appearing to have suffered head trauma. Park officials stated that the employee had been struck by a roller coaster train. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene; another individual was taken to a hospital to be treated for psychological trauma. Officials with the park did not know why the employee entered the restricted area of the ride while it was operational, but they did state that the ride was operating normally and that procedures for entering restricted ride areas, including notification of ride staff, had not been followed.

Grande Roue

*On August 21, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. a film crew was involved in an incident in which two gondolas flipped over and the crew was stuck in the air. The park was not open to the public at the time. No one was injured. Firefighters rescued the crew within 30 minutes and speculated that the gondolas flipped due to heavy equipment causing instability. The ride remained closed until further inspection deemed it was safe to operate. La Ronde said in a statement "The safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority."

The Mississippi

*On July 8, 1979, the Mississippi was involved in a fatal incident when it capsized, dumping 50 to 60 sightseers into the lake. Three of the passengers drowned during the scene and ten were taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Eyewitnesses reported that the boat was returning from a tour when it began to list to one side. Passengers, who were panicking at the time, ran over to the other side and the boat began to lurch from side to side before toppling over less than six meters from the docking area.

Super Manège

*On August 25, 2019, a passenger's safety harness malfunctioned when one of the trains began its initial ascent, causing an emergency stop. Safety sensors on the Super Manège stopped the initial climb of the train. This was the ride's final day of operation, and the ride closed earlier than intended. All passengers were evacuated from the area to continue their visit to the park.

Six Flags America

Batwing

*On September 22, 2001, a 16-year-old girl was in distress shortly after riding the roller coaster and died after being taken to Prince George's Hospital Center. An autopsy revealed that her death was caused by a pre-existing heart condition.

Firebird

*On July 18, 2019, riders were stranded for nearly two hours after its train stopped on the lift hill due to a safety malfunction. All were eventually escorted safely off and the ride remained closed following an investigation according to park officials.

Harley Quinn: Spinsanity

*On June 20, 2021, one of the ride’s supports began to shake, causing an emergency stop of the ride. All riders were evacuated and no injuries were reported. The ride was temporarily closed for investigation, reopening on July 13, 2021.

Hurricane Harbor

* On July 13, 1983, while operating under the name Wild World, 9-year-old boy Christie Davis drowned in the wave pool. Lifeguards reported that the boy appeared to have a seizure, but the Medical Examiner determined there was no seizure.
* On August 20, 1987, a dead prematurely born baby was found abandoned behind the women's changing rooms.
* On July 4, 2005, a 29-year-old woman from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was found unconscious after coming down the Shark Attack waterslide. She was taken to Bowie Health Center where she later died. It was concluded she had suffered a sudden heart attack during the ride.
* On June 13, 2018, a 14-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital in very critical condition after he was rescued from the wave pool. Park staff and paramedics treated the boy before he was transported to the hospital.
* On August 14, 2021, a young boy slipped and fell into the park's wave pool. Several minutes later, swimmers at the pool discovered the boy, underwater and unconscious, prompting them to notify the lifeguards, who pulled him out and performed CPR. He was reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital, although with serious injuries.

The Joker's Jinx

*On August 10, 2014, at about 3 p.m. EST, 24 riders were trapped on the coaster when a train stalled along the course. The train was upright on a curve near one of the highest points on the ride. The local fire department used an aerial fire apparatus to bring down riders one at a time. By 7:30 p.m. EST, all riders had been removed from the ride, which was immediately closed for investigation. Investigators claim that the stalled train was caused by debris on the track. No riders were injured and all were evacuated by emergency personnel.
*On April 13, 2017, at a little before 6 p.m. EST, the ride stalled along the same length as the 2014 incident. Several riders were left stuck on the train, and firefighters rescued all of the riders on the coaster with the help of an aerial fire apparatus by 9:20 p.m. EST (more than two hours after the park's closing) and almost four hours after the train stalled.

Octopus

*On August 3, 2007, a 6-year-old girl fell from the Octopus while the ride was in motion and suffered minor injuries to her head, hip, and leg. Park officials said that they believe the girl fell because she was standing up while the ride was moving.

Other incidents involving guests

* On July 8, 1997, four young men were stabbed at the park (known as Adventure World at the time). They had come to the aid of a female friend of theirs who had been sexually harassed by Rasheed Kareem Friday. When her four companions came to her defense, an altercation ensued and Friday stabbed all four. The four victims were taken to the hospital, where one underwent abdominal surgery for his wound.
*On September 26, 2014, a 15-year-old boy from Prince George's County, Maryland was severely injured in the parking lot during its annual Fright Fest event after a fight broke out. He was punched twice by someone, fell to the ground in the parking lot, and smashed his head on the concrete. The boy was put into a medically induced coma and taken to a hospital; there, he underwent head surgery in which a portion of his skull was removed so that his swollen brain could expand and heal. Two more people were injured in the incident and were also hospitalized.

Park-wide incidents

* On July 13, 2016, a bomb threat was called in right before the park opened. The Prince George's County Fire Department bomb squad and security personnel were deployed around the park and found two unattended backpacks that were determined not to be explosive. The all-clear was announced after a search of the park around 2:45 p.m. Six Flags announced that the park would be open until 8 p.m. that evening.
* On September 10, 2016, at 1:30 p.m., an unspecified phone threat caused an evacuation of the park, though a security sweep did not detect any suspicious activity. The park remained closed for the remainder of the day, but re-opened as normal the following day.
* On September 25, 2021, multiple fights broke out and videos were circulated online on social media which temporarily resulted in the park closing an hour earlier than expected and officials had to change their normal operational hours for the remainder of the season. Police were still investigating full circumstances of the incident and several victims have filed numerous reports during the time when it took place. No arrests were made.

Renegade Rapids

*On June 28, 2000, eight people were trapped when their raft overturned during the ride. All riders escaped but two were injured.

Two Face: The Flip Side

*On July 1, 2003, a roller coaster train stalled off the ground after a malfunction occurred, leaving a total of 24 passengers on board stranded for more than two hours. All passengers were examined by paramedics as a safety precaution once they got off, including one person who had an asthma attack and later recovered.
*In October 2007, a roller coaster train unintentionally rolled back into the station hitting a pipeline carrying hydraulic fluid which sprayed onto several riders. All suffered minor injuries with 10 people being treated at the scene and two being sent to a local hospital for further evaluation. Following this incident, the roller coaster was closed indefinitely as it did not reopen for the 2008 season and was dismantled a year later in 2009.

Six Flags AstroWorld

Alpine Sleigh Ride

*On January 12, 1974, a woman suffered injuries after the car she was in was struck from behind by another car.

Excalibur

* On August 9, 1997, a 51-year-old maintenance worker was killed after being struck by a roller coaster train. He was working on a section of track when the train was sent out for a test run.

Mayan Mindbender

*In 2001, a 13-year-old boy was ejected from the ride due to a faulty lap bar and suffered broken bones in his head, pelvis, and legs.

Texas Cyclone

* On August 18, 1977, a 15-year-old girl was injured after falling from the ride. A park manager claimed that her lap bar might have come undone during the ride.
* On October 19, 2003, seven people were treated and released from a local hospital after a wooden board fell into the middle of a roller coaster train while the ride was running.

Texas Tornado

* On May 10, 1998, a six-car train had nearly reached the top of the first hill when smoke began wafting from the track. The train lost its grip on the tire-driven lift, slid back down the hill into the station, and crashed into a fully occupied train. Seven people went to the hospital and at least two sued after developing neck and back problems.

Six Flags Darien Lake

*On September 6, 2009, the body of a Pennsylvania man, William Sutherland, was found in one of the small lakes located inside of the parking lot. Sutherland had been reported missing the previous day. The cause of his death was not determined.

Mind Eraser

*On May 13, 2018, an armrest broke off one of the chairs when the ride was moving. No injuries were reported to any of the guests who were using it. Since then, it has been replaced with a new one.

Predator

*On October 5, 2019, a 36-year-old man from Livonia, Michigan suffered shoulder and spinal injuries while riding the coaster when the headrest broke during the ride. The victim claimed the headrest was partially broken prior to his boarding the train and that the attendants failed to notice and close off the seat.

Ride of Steel

* On May 16, 1999, a 37-year-old male guest from Olean, New York was unable to close his lap bar properly and was ejected, falling approximately from the '' Ride of Steel'' roller coaster as the ride went over a camelback hill, resulting in him suffering serious injuries. The victim sued the park and the ride manufacturer Intamin for negligence, and was awarded $2.85 million following a court case.

* On July 8, 2011, 29-year-old James Hackemer fell to his death from the coaster. The rider, an Iraq War veteran whose legs had been amputated, was in the front row of the roller coaster when he was thrown from the train during the course. Officials decided that operator error was the cause for the accident. The investigators claimed that park workers didn't adhere to rules advertised at the entrance of the ride. The rules required riders to have both legs safely secure when boarding the train. Following this incident, the ride temporarily ceased operation for almost two weeks before reopening again on July 22.

Silver Bullet

*On September 30, 2017, several guests on the Silver Bullet suffered injuries as the ride came to a stop. The exact cause is unknown, though a Darien Lake spokesperson said it was not due to a ride malfunction.

Viper

*On September 5, 1982, a blown fuse caused one of the coaster trains to stop abruptly when it was on the lift hill. 28 passengers on board the train had to be brought down once power was eventually restored. Two other rides at the amusement park were also affected with the fuse.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Animal attacks and deaths

* On January 5, 1996, two trainers were injured by cougars during an exercise session. One trainer was in the cougar enclosure to take one of the animals for a walk. The cougars, Zuni and Tonto, had been playing among themselves and began aggressively playing with him, causing severe cuts on his face and upper torso. The backup trainer suffered minor cuts and bruises in his attempt to free the other.
* On July 31, 1998, Kuma, a two-year-old Bengal tiger, attacked and seriously injured a guest from San Jose, California, and slightly injured the trainer. The incident happened in a secluded area of the park set up to do private photo sessions with the big cats. The tiger was apparently startled when the guest fell off the photo platform and landed on top of her. The trainer suffered a clawing while trying to free the guest, who had received serious injuries to her head and upper torso.
* On June 2, 2004, a 23-year-old African elephant named Misha gored her trainer with her tusks while in her enclosure as the trainer walked beside her. This was Misha's second aggressive act following a previous swipe at a trainer two years prior.
*On September 5, 2007, a two-year-old giraffe died after a fire broke out overnight and its enclosure was destroyed. The animal was accompanied by two more who escaped. Investigators believed the fire was caused by an electrical short.

Batman Water Thrill Spectacular Show

*On June 6, 1999, a 38-year-old stuntman was injured while doing a performance, after being thrown off a jet ski and was hit on the head by another one that was coming towards him. He was taken to John Muir Medical Center by helicopter for treatment of a small cut to his head.

Boomerang

*On August 25, 1999, 28 passengers were stranded on the Boomerang ride for several hours. After the train was pulled out of the station, the pull truck failed to release the train and it stopped on the initial incline for about ten minutes. While operators were attempting to restart the ride, the cable that pulled the train out of the station and was holding it on the hill snapped. The train proceeded through the station and into the first element with the pull truck and part of the cable still attached. Due to the extra weight and the fact that the pull truck was not designed to negotiate turns, the train came to halt in the boomerang element. Riders, suffering from cases of severe dehydration and sunburn, were rescued and treated by firefighters in an aerial fire apparatus.

Monkey Business

*On July 21, 2001, a 42-year-old woman suffered a brain hemorrhage after riding the attraction. She was treated by the park's medical staff, taken to Kaiser Hospital and died two days later from her injuries. An autopsy wasn't performed to determine the exact cause of her death. State investigators temporarily shut down the ride, but later reopened after no mechanical problems were reported.

Other incidents involving guests

*On July 3, 2010, one of the parking lot trams hit a swinging metal gate after someone accidentally pushed it which resulted in three people becoming injured at the scene. A 34-year-old man and his 2-year-old son were both taken to the hospital while another suffered minor injuries.
*On August 25, 2018, a fight broke out inside the park between five people, who were all arrested for causing a disturbance. A police officer suffered minor injuries.

Scat-a-bout

*On September 4, 1999, a nine-year-old boy was injured when he slipped below the restraining bar on the Scat-a-bout, a scrambler ride. The boy was thrown from the ride and landed in a nearby planter, receiving cuts on his legs. The park later stated that the accident was the result of the boy intentionally sliding beneath the safety restraint.

Starfish

* On May 12, 2001, a 41-year-old woman from Antioch, California was thrown from the ride when a restraining bar failed as the result of a pneumatic valve being incorrectly installed. She landed on the pavement and suffered head and knee injuries. Her later lawsuit named both the park and ride manufacturer Chance Rides as responsible parties.
* On June 8, 2002, a 4-year-old girl was critically injured when she slipped beneath the restraining bar and fell from the Starfish ride while riding with her mother, receiving critical head injuries. Investigators later blamed park employees for incorrectly seating the girl and not having proper signage indicating the proper seating arrangement for a larger and smaller rider.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

*On July 8, 2000, seven people were injured after a chlorine spill. They were all taken to local hospitals and released without any serious injuries.

Other incidents involving guests

*On July 11, 2007, a 37-year-old man was charged with improper photography and recording after allegedly acting suspiciously with a video camera by secretly filming young girls in the water park section. Reports have said he was trying to film someone without permission in an attempt to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of a person.

Poltergeist

* On June 12, 2007, a 14-year-old girl was paralyzed after she fell into a gap between the roller coaster's cars, landing on a concrete floor about below the platform. Family members stated that she may have fainted due to the heat of the day.
* On August 28, 2010, two people were stuck on the Poltergeist for two hours.
* On May 29, 2021, at approximately 11:54 AM, the San Antonio Fire Department was called to safely evacuate 20 riders when Poltergeist got stuck for three hours on the same location prior to the 2010 incident. According to SAFD's public information officer Joe Arrington, there have been no injuries reported and by 3:15 PM, all the passengers had been safely rescued.

Frontier City

Mystery River Log Flume

*On June 14, 2002, three people were injured on the ride when two boats bumped into each other. The three, all from Ada, Oklahoma, were taken to St. Anthony Hospital and treated in the emergency room. The Emergency Medical Systems Authority was called at about 9 p.m. to respond after the riders complained of back and neck injuries.
*On June 23, 2019, a woman suffered back injuries while riding on the log flume. She slid backwards and hit herself on a pole. A park spokesperson said that the ride's vehicle was already inspected and found to be operating normally.

Silver Bullet

*On May 4, 2017, firefighters rescued 19 passengers after they were stuck on the roller coaster. No injuries were reported.

Wildcat

*On June 21, 2019, two riders were injured as a falling tree branch toppled on top of them while on the coaster. One of them was taken to a nearby hospital while the other was treated for minor injuries. The ride remained closed following an investigation and later reopened.
*On July 26, 2021, a man trespassed through a restricted area by climbing on the catwalk next to the wooden supports of the coaster's tracks to bring bottled water to passengers on board a train when it stalled on the lift hill. According to a statement provided by the park, his actions were unsafe and unwarranted and he and his family were escorted out of the park, with him being banned afterwards.

Six Flags Great Adventure

Batman and Robin: The Chiller

* On August 18, 2004, twenty passengers were stranded on the ride above ground for 40 minutes after lightning struck a substation outside the park, causing the ride itself to eventually lose power. Another incident on the ride occurred in May of that same year as it malfunctioned when one of the ride's 200 electric motors began smoking and was shut down temporarily for 45 minutes.
* On June 2, 2006, two cars on the original Robin train were damaged as a wheel bogie on the third car suffered a mechanical malfunction. No one was hurt in the accident and passengers had to be evacuated. The coaster was closed for the rest of the 2006 season. In 2007, the zero-g rolls were removed from both sides and the Batman train was repainted red. The Robin side would reopen on April 7, 2007, but a second wheel bogie malfunction would occur on June 28. The ride was shut down because of this. Instead of spending more money to fix the ride which had constant issues, Six Flags decided that the Chiller's time in the park had come to an end. The cost to fix the ride would not be worth it and they could not be confident in its ability to operate consistently. The coaster was swiftly dismantled in the fall of 2007.

Congo Rapids

*On August 20, 1998, eight people suffered minor injuries after a rope underneath the raft was caught on an object, thus making it suddenly stop.
*On July 15, 2012, a goose was trapped in the ride's conveyor belt. Park staff stopped the belt to prevent the rafts from going any further, but the goose was killed instantly once the ride continued to operate.

El Diablo

*On September 13, 2015, a girl from Gibbstown, New Jersey