Six Flags Magic Mountain retires X2 roller coaster amid brain injury lawsuits

Six Flags Magic Mountain is retiring its renowned X2 roller coaster due to lawsuits alleging severe brain injuries sustained by riders. The Southern California amusement park announced the permanent closure of the coasters after nearly two decades in operation. Six Flags recently entered a settlement in a wrongful-death suit filed by the family of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old who passed away the day after riding the coaster in 2022.

The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt head trauma. Three additional lawsuits were filed last week, alleging traumatic brain injuries. Park President Brian Oerding stated that while the ride consistently passed safety tests, closing it was deemed necessary to protect guest confidence. The X2 roller coaster, which debuted in 2002, reaches a top speed of 76 mph and features a 3,610-foot track, rotational seats, and two "raven turns" that turn into drops.

Two women who rode the coaster within a week of each other were hospitalized with severe brain bleeding, with one remaining in a vegetative state and requiring a ventilator. Multiple individuals have claimed brain injuries from the ride in the past two years, prompting more lawsuits.