Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has shut its high‑thrill X2 rollercoaster, citing the safety of its guests after more than 200 riders said they suffered serious brain injuries from the ride.
The X2, which spins riders 360 degrees in a 150‑foot‑high multi‑looped track, opened in 2002 and was later renamed after a flurry of design fixes. It has since attracted millions of guests, but a growing list of lawsuits claims it caused traumatic brain injuries.
Six Flags said the ride had passed all routine safety tests, but the company decided closing it was “the right thing to do” after a new wave of complaints surfaced in recent months.
Dordick Law Corporation, which represents many of the plaintiffs, said the closure comes “too late” for those already hurt, noting that some riders required emergency brain surgery and are still fighting for their lives.
Park president Brian Oerding said on the company blog https://www.sixflags.com/blog/retiring-x2-magic-mountain that ride safety is a cornerstone of Six Flags’ business and that the park will keep guests’ confidence in top priority.
The decision follows the tragic death of 22‑year‑old Christopher Hawley in 2022 after riding the X2; his family settled a wrongful‑death claim with the park last August.
Legal experts call for proactive regulation and stronger government oversight of amusement‑park safety, warning that profit‑driven corporations may not act until a backlog of injuries becomes public.
For now, the park has removed the X2 from its circuit and is working with authorities to plan a new attraction that meets the highest safety standards.
