Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 coaster Credit: Shutterstock© Shutterstock
Six Flags to permanently close X2 roller coaster after more than 100 riders claimed they suffered brain injuries from it
Story by Natalia Senanayake
NEED TO KNOW
- Six Flags Magic Mountain announced it is permanently closing its X2 roller coaster after nearly 20 years
- An operational update announcing the news on Sept. 29 claimed that the ride has “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests” but they are closing it because “it’s the right thing to do”
- The news comes after a California law firm claimed more than 100 riders allegedly suffered traumatic brain injuries from the ride over the past two years
Six Flags Magic Mountain is permanently closing its X2 roller coaster after more than 100 riders claimed they suffered brain injuries from riding it.
“After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,” Six Flags Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding announced on Tuesday, Sept. 29
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding announced the news in an operational update: “After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,” the message began.
It continued, “Since X2 opened in 2008, it has welcomed more than 16 million guests and earned a passionate following among ride enthusiasts. We recognize the special place X2 holds in the coaster community, and we are grateful to our team members who operated and maintained it throughout its run.”
Oerding notes that while the coaster has “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests,” they are officially closing the ride “because we believe it’s the right thing to do.”
X2 roller coaster Credit: Shutterstock
Key takeaways
- Ride Closure: Six Flags Magic Mountain is permanently retiring X2 after nearly 20 years, despite the coaster passing multiple safety tests.
- Safety Issues: Over 100 riders reportedly suffered traumatic brain injuries, with lawsuits filed and at least one death linked to the ride.
- Legacy & Impact: X2, known for its 360-degree rotating seats and extreme thrills, welcomed over 16 million guests, leaving a lasting impression on coaster enthusiasts.
“Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously,” the update added, before concluding, “Our purpose is to create FUN, thrills and a lifetime of memories by creating unforgettable experiences that are underpinned by comprehensive safety policies.”
The Valencia, Calif., park also shared the news of the coaster’s retirement to its official Instagram account, which received a number of comments from past guests expressing how “sad” they were to hear the “legendary” coaster was closing.
Featuring 360-degree rotating seats, the X2 was described on the park’s website as a “rite of passage for the ultimate daredevil,” and it was often regarded as one of the most thrilling roller coasters in the world.
Oerding’s announcement comes after a California law firm said more than 100 Six Flags Magic Mountain guests claimed they suffered traumatic brain injuries after riding its X2 coaster in the last two years, PEOPLE reported last week.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, attorneys Gary Dordick and Christopher Bulone with Dordick Law Corporation announced three lawsuits had been filed, alleging “catastrophic brain damage” suffered by three guests who rode X2 earlier this year.
In an email shared with PEOPLE, Dordick said the firm had been contacted by about 400 people who have “indicated they were injured on X2,” but more than 100 claim to have suffered some type of “traumatic brain injury” and retained the attorneys.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
All three lawsuits filed against Magic Mountain also pointed to the death of 22-year-old student Christopher Hawley, who died after suffering a brain injury while riding X2 on June 23, 2022.
A spokesperson for Six Flags Magic Mountain declined to comment on the new allegations at the time citing pending litigation, but they did confirm the ride had been closed since the evening of July 12.
The allegations came after CNN released a report in August that alleged more than a dozen instances of serious injuries and hospitalizations related to the ride.
Southern California-based Dordick Law Corp. has filed multiple lawsuits on behalf of park visitors who say they were injured, and said they represent more than 100 people who were hurt after boarding the ride.
Six Flags previously referred USA TODAY to the company’s ride safety webpage but declined further comment due to pending litigation. According to the company’s website, Six Flags’ safety program includes independent third-party ride inspection, insurance inspectors, Six Flags engineering and corporate safety experts, and international ride operator training and evaluations.
X2 stats
Six Flags Magic Mountain described X2 as “a rite of passage for the ultimate daredevil” with a top speed of 76 mph, a height of 200 feet and 3,610 feet of track.
“To make things even better, your 360-degree seat extends on wings far off the track, so your body will be flipping around the entire time,” according to the park’s website.
Oerding said X2 had welcomed more than 16 million guests and “earned a passionate following among ride enthusiasts” since its debut in 2008.
Colleagues noticed lawyer’s changes after ride
Michael Wilk before and after a Feb. 7, 2026 visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif. That day, Wilk rode the X2 roller coaster and he has since filed a lawsuit against Six Flags alleging the X2 roller coaster left him injured.More
Lawsuits lay out a timeline accusing Six Flags of knowing the ride has hurt visitors and then failing to alert the public to potential injury risks.
Among those suing Six Flags is Patrick Plumlee, whose lawsuit was filed on Sept. 10. Plumlee, who is represented by Dordick Law Corp., rode the X2 in September 2024 and was “violently thrown around,” the lawsuit reads. Plumlee’s head banged against the headrest, leading to a traumatic brain injury, the suit alleges.
Park visitor and lawyer Michael Wilk made similar complaints in his lawsuit, filed on Sept. 21, in which he said he visited Six Flags in February 2026 with his daughter and grandchildren. During the X2 ride, his “head began slamming violently against the headrest of his seat,” according to the lawsuit. Once he got off the ride, he felt sick, had a stabbing pain in his head, felt fuzzy and had trouble walking, the suit says.
Wilk said he thought his symptoms would go away on their own, but as weeks went by, colleagues noticed “a continuing decline in his cognitive function and became alarmed.” They encouraged him to see a doctor. He then underwent a brain MRI, which revealed that he had intracranial bleeding, swelling and a shift of the brain.
Doctors performed an emergency embolization procedure, but it didn’t stop the bleeding. He had to undergo two separate surgeries to relieve the pressure the bleeding was causing on his brain. He still has headaches, confusion, dizziness, memory loss and personality changes, he said in the lawsuit.
BONUS: Ohio State Fair “Fireball” Ride Collapse — 2017 Tragedy – Search
Daughter said mom had ‘vacant stare and her mouth open’ after ride
Pamela Guillen (red shirt) before and after a July 5, 2026 visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif. Guillen rode the X2 roller coaster that day, which her family said left her injured. They have since sued the park.More
Pamela Guillen went to Six Flags on July 5, 2026, with her daughter Camille Marquez to celebrate Marquez’s birthday. They rode the X2.
“When X2 returned to the station, Camille looked at her mother and saw her sitting with a vacant stare and her mouth open,” the lawsuit reads. “Camille initially thought Pamela was joking. She quickly realized that something was seriously wrong.”
Guillen tried to get off the ride but was confused and unable to walk properly, according to the lawsuit. She stumbled after getting off the ride and then collapsed. She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors conducted a scan and found a massive intracranial hemorrhage and life-threatening traumatic brain injury. She has since had multiple brain surgeries, the suit reads.
X2: The Final Ride? | A Cinematic Tribute to Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Wildest Coaster