Six Flags has permanently retired the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain after renewed scrutiny following multiple brain injuries linked to the ride. Two women suffered brain hemorrhages in July, requiring emergency neurosurgery, and one was left in a coma. Media investigations and court records revealed more than a dozen serious injury reports over about two decades, including riders who later died. Six Flags said the ride repeatedly passed safety tests but closed X2 because guest confidence was affected.
Six Flags Permanently Retires X2 Coaster After Multiple Riders Suffer Brain Injuries
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Six Flags has announced the permanent retirement of the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain after months of scrutiny over serious brain injuries linked to the ride.
Decision and Official Statement
On September 29, the company confirmed that X2 — which had been idle since July — will not reopen. Six Flags said the ride repeatedly met safety inspections, but Magic Mountain president Brian Oerding said declining guest confidence drove the decision.
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"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 said. "Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously."
Background: A 24-Year Run
X2 debuted as X in 2002 and was retooled and renamed X2 in 2008. Over its 24-year history the attraction drew more than 16 million riders. Its unusual configuration placed seats beside the track and allowed them to rotate independently, producing a distinctive and intense ride experience.
Incident History and Investigations
Concerns about the coaster's safety date back to its early years: X closed for repairs months after opening in 2002, and the park replaced the trains with lighter models in 2007 before relaunching the ride in 2008 as X2.
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In July, two women suffered similar brain hemorrhages within six days of one another after riding X2; both lost consciousness and required emergency neurosurgery, and one was left in a coma. The three neurosurgeons who treated them later attributed the injuries to a "traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event" experienced on the ride.
Those cases prompted renewed media and legal scrutiny. CNN identified more than a dozen reports over roughly two decades of severe injuries and hospitalizations linked to X2, including instances in which riders later died. Among the reported fatalities were 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who collapsed after riding in 2022 and later died; his family sued and reached a settlement with Magic Mountain in August. Court records also show that 28-year-old Hilda Farias suffered a brain bleed after riding in 2010 and later died. Additional lawsuits have alleged traumatic brain injuries following rides in 2020 and 2021.
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What Comes Next
The retirement of X2 arrives as Six Flags promotes a new generation of extreme attractions at Magic Mountain. The park has announced Thrill Glider, a coaster planned for 2027 that will suspend riders face-forward beneath the track in hovercycle-style vehicles. Six Flags says Thrill Glider will reach about 50 mph, run for more than half a mile, and include five inversions.
Context
The decision reflects both safety and reputation considerations: while internal testing may have shown compliance with regulations, the company cited the importance of guest trust in its operations. The park and legal proceedings related to past incidents remain ongoing in various forms.
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