Six Flags Closes Its X2 Roller Coaster After Brain-Injury Lawsuits

Six Flags announced on Tuesday that it will permanently close the X2 roller coaster at its Magic Mountain park in Valencia, California, following claims of serious brain injuries linked to the ride. The closure has sparked discussions about the impact of extreme roller coasters on the human brain.

Experts have stated that rapid acceleration, twisting, and changes in direction on roller coasters can stretch brain tissue and blood vessels, potentially increasing the risk of concussions and bleeding. Over 100 people have contacted attorneys with similar allegations, following three lawsuits filed in late September.

In a blog post, Six Flags Magic Mountain president Brian Oerding wrote that after nearly 20 years, the company has decided to retire X2 permanently. Despite consistently passing safety tests, the decision was made to prioritize guest safety and address concerns regarding ride confidence.

The two-minute thrill ride, which reached a top speed of 76 miles per hour, opened in 2002 and is known for its rotating seats that suspend riders in space and rotate them 360 degrees. The ride, billed as a "fifth-dimension wing roller coaster," ran along 3,610 feet of track.

In July 2026, two women—one 40 and the other 26—were hospitalized six days apart after riding X2. Both suffered from subdural hematoma, a type of bleeding on the brain. The 40-year-old underwent emergency surgery and was unconscious for two weeks, while the 26-year-old remains in a coma.

Six Flags closed X2 indefinitely at the end of September, following a CNN investigation published in August that revealed the ride's long history of incidents, including at least two deaths.