In brief
A surge of lawsuits has forced Six Flags Magic Mountain to retire its X2 rollercoaster, the park’s flagship thrill ride, after riders alleged brain injuries on more than 100 occasions. While the company asserts the ride met all safety tests, it cited guest confidence concerns as the reason for closure. Plaintiffs say the shutdown came too late, and the family of a 22‑year‑old who died on the coaster in 2022 has urged regulatory reforms. The ban ends nearly two decades of operation that had seen over 16 million riders, but the incident raises questions about corporate accountability and governmental oversight in amusement park safety.
Six Flags shuts down X2 rollercoaster after more than 100 alleged brain injuries
Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has permanently closed its high‑speed X2 rollercoaster, citing safety concerns after more than 100 riders reported brain injuries linked to the ride.
The park, which operated X2 for nearly 24 years, announced the closure on Tuesday, noting that the attraction had passed a series of safety tests but that the decision was “the right thing to do” following a surge of lawsuits and negative media coverage.
Plaintiffs, represented by the Dordick Law Corporation, say their clients, about 400 in number, suffered catastrophic brain injuries that required emergency surgery and ongoing medical care. The firm has argued that the shutdown came too late to protect those already harmed.
“They got on X2 expecting a thrill. Instead, they left with catastrophic brain injuries,” the law firm stated. “Some needed emergency brain surgery. Some are still fighting to get their lives back.”
Park President Brian Oerding added that “ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”
X2 first opened as the X coaster in 2002 and was closed months later over design flaws. It reopened in 2003, was shut again in 2007 for new trains, and returned as X2 a year later. The park says the ride has now been enjoyed by over 16 million guests.
The tragedy that has drawn renewed scrutiny was the death of 22‑year‑old Christopher Hawley, who died after riding X2 in 2022. His family settled a wrongful‑death lawsuit with the theme park in August, but said the closure does not erase the fatal outcome.
Attorney Brent Wisner of Wisner Baum LLP called for “legal reform, proactive regulation, and proper governmental oversight” and warned that “we cannot rely on profit‑centered corporations to do the right thing only after enough people have been hurt.”
The X2’s retirement marks the end of a once‑popular attraction, raising broader questions about ride safety standards and how amusement parks balance profit with guest wellbeing in the United States.
