Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has announced the permanent shutdown of its X2 rollercoaster after hundreds of riders reported brain injuries sustained while riding. The shuttle‑style coaster, known for its 360‑degree spinning seats, has been closed since July in response to mounting legal pressure.
The park states the ride passed safety tests but decided to retire it because it was the “right thing to do.” This decision follows lawsuits that claim riders sustained catastrophic brain injuries, forcing some to undergo emergency brain surgery.
Dordick Law Corporation, representing thousands of aggrieved guests, said the delay in closing the ride was unacceptable, noting that their clients began reporting symptoms weeks after each ride. The firm’s statements underscore the severity of injuries, describing the experience as leaving riders “with catastrophic brain injuries.”
The X2 was originally launched in 2002 as X before closing for design fixes. After further modifications, it reopened as X2 in 2003 and was ridden by more than 16 million guests. Since 2022, the park’s reputation has been battered by a series of adverse claims highlighted by the death of Christopher Hawley, a 22‑year‑old visitor whose family later settled a wrongful‑death lawsuit.
Legal experts have called for systemic changes to amusement park oversight, arguing that profit motives should not supersede safety. “We cannot rely on profit‑centred corporations to act only after enough people are hurt,” said one attorney. The closure of X2 serves as a cautionary tale for theme parks nationwide.
