Six Flags Magic Mountain Permanently Closes X2 Roller Coaster Amid Injury Reports
The park cited guest confidence and the decision to do what's right as reasons for retiring the ride after nearly 20 years of operation.
Six Flags Magic Mountain has permanently retired its X2 roller coaster, citing a commitment to safety and guest confidence. The decision comes after a series of alleged catastrophic brain injuries reported by passengers on the thrill ride.
Brian Oerding, president of the Valencia theme park, announced the closure on Tuesday. "While X2 consistently passed a multitude of safety tests, we have decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do," Oerding stated in a park blog post. "Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously."
The X2 roller coaster, which first opened in 2002 as the X before undergoing upgrades and reopening as X2 in 2008, was known as the world's first fourth-dimensional roller coaster. It reached speeds of up to 80 mph, with seats capable of rotating 360 degrees during drops of up to 200 feet. The ride had welcomed over 16 million guests during its operation.
The closure follows several incidents that have drawn significant attention. The coaster was shut down on July 12 after two riders reportedly suffered severe injuries requiring emergency brain surgery within days of each other. Subsequently, three new lawsuits were filed against the park and the coaster's manufacturer, alleging traumatic brain injuries.
One lawsuit involves a 25-year-old woman who has been on a ventilator for months following an alleged catastrophic brain injury on the ride. Doctors treating her and another injured rider told CNN that the injuries were consistent with a "traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event."
Naomi Greer-Wilkinson was reportedly injured just six days after Pamela Guillen experienced a similar medical emergency on the same coaster. Attorneys representing injured riders claim that more than 100 individuals have come forward alleging brain injuries after riding X2.
In June 2022, Christopher Hawley, 22, died from a traumatic brain injury the day after riding X2. An autopsy described his brain damage as akin to shaken baby syndrome. His family filed a lawsuit in 2023, and an undisclosed settlement was reached with Six Flags and the supplier of X2's replacement trains in August.