Six Flags permanently closes X2 roller coaster after injury claims

Six Flags Magic Mountain has permanently closed X2, one of the California park’s best-known roller coasters, after a series of injury claims and scrutiny over serious brain injuries reported by riders.

Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding announced the decision on September 29, saying the park had chosen to retire X2 after almost 20 years. The Valencia ride had already been shuttered since July 12.

Six Flags X2 roller coaster closure becomes permanent

Oerding said in a statement that Six Flags had decided to “permanently retire X2” after almost 20 years. He said the attraction had welcomed more than 16 million guests since reopening in 2008 and had developed a passionate following among roller coaster 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 said.

He also stressed that the ride had continued to pass safety testing. “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,” he said. Oerding added that ride safety was “a cornerstone of our business” and said Six Flags takes changes in guest confidence seriously.

The decision ends the run of a coaster that had become one of Magic Mountain’s signature attractions. X2 first opened in 2002 and was voted “Coaster of the Year” that year. The high-speed “4D” ride featured near-vertical drops and seats that rotated independently, flipping riders during the course.

Date	Development
2002	X2 first opened and was voted “Coaster of the Year”.
2008	X2 reopened; Six Flags says more than 16 million guests rode it from then onward.
July 12, 2026	The coaster was shuttered at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
September 29, 2026	Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding announced that X2 would be permanently retired.

What happened before the X2 Magic Mountain closure

The permanent retirement follows reporting about serious injuries suffered by riders. According to a CNN investigation reported by The Hollywood Reporter, two women rode X2 six days apart, lost consciousness and later underwent surgery for similar brain hemorrhages.

CNN reported that the hemorrhages were of a type “typically associated with high-speed collisions”. Three neurosurgeons who treated the women said in an email that “the severe brain injuries requiring emergent neurosurgical attention were the result of a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced while on the X2 ride”.

The injuries prompted further questions about the ride’s continued operation. One parent of an injured rider told CNN that whoever made the decision to keep X2 operating after the first July injury case “has a lot to answer for”. The parent added: “It's got to stop.”

The Hollywood Reporter said the ride had been closed since July 12, placing the shutdown before the September 29 announcement that the closure would become permanent.

What the injury claims and lawsuits allege

Legal action followed the CNN report. ABC 7, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, said three lawsuits were filed in the weeks after the investigation was published.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs also said that more than 100 additional people had come forward with injury claims. That figure refers to additional claims reported by the plaintiffs’ lawyers and does not establish a total number of proven injuries.

The medical allegations outlined in CNN’s reporting focus on the two women who lost consciousness after riding X2 and required surgery. The three neurosurgeons who treated them directly linked their severe brain injuries to what they described as a rapid acceleration-deceleration event on the ride.

The claims have placed particular attention on the forces experienced by riders and whether those forces could cause brain injuries. Six Flags and its attorneys have disputed that contention in legal arguments and have defended the ride’s safety record.

How Six Flags and its lawyers have responded

Before announcing the permanent closure, Six Flags had defended X2 by pointing to park signage warning guests that there are “inherent risks” associated with amusement park rides. The company also said X2 was regularly tested and met industry safety regulations.

Attorneys for the company have argued that the forces generated by X2 are not strong enough to cause a brain injury in a “normal” rider when the attraction is used “as instructed”. In at least one case, the park’s attorneys argued that a rider’s injury resulted from her own negligence.

Oerding’s September 29 statement did not abandon the company’s position that X2 passed safety testing. Instead, he said the permanent closure was being made because Six Flags believed it was the right decision, citing the importance of ride safety and guest confidence.

“Our purpose is to create FUN, thrills and a lifetime of memories by creating unforgettable experiences that are underpinned by comprehensive safety policies,” Oerding said.

Why X2 had such a following at Magic Mountain

X2 was particularly popular with dedicated coaster fans because of its unusual ride design. The attraction combined high speed, near-vertical drops and seats capable of rotating independently, creating an experience in which riders could be flipped as the train moved through the course.

Its reputation developed early. The coaster was voted “Coaster of the Year” when it first opened in 2002, and Six Flags said it had welcomed more than 16 million guests since its 2008 reopening.

That history was acknowledged directly in Oerding’s announcement. He described the ride as having a special place in the coaster community and thanked the employees who had operated and maintained it.

The retirement therefore closes a long-running attraction that was both heavily associated with Magic Mountain and, more recently, the focus of medical claims, lawsuits and public scrutiny.

What happens after the Six Flags X2 roller coaster closure

Six Flags has now moved from a temporary shutdown to permanent retirement of the attraction. The announcement establishes that X2 will not reopen after being closed since July 12.

At the same time, the legal disputes surrounding alleged injuries remain distinct from the park’s decision to retire the coaster. Plaintiffs’ attorneys have cited more than 100 additional injury claims, while Six Flags has previously maintained that the ride met industry safety requirements and that its forces were not sufficient to cause a brain injury in a normal rider when used as directed.

The September 29 announcement settles the question of X2’s operational future: after years as one of Magic Mountain’s most prominent coasters, the ride is being permanently retired as injury claims and lawsuits continue to draw scrutiny.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Six Flags X2 roller coaster closure permanent?

Six Flags Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding said the park had decided to permanently retire X2 because it believed closing the ride was the right thing to do. He said X2 consistently passed safety tests but added that Six Flags takes guest confidence seriously and considers ride safety a cornerstone of its business.

What happened to riders on X2 Magic Mountain?

A CNN investigation found that two women who rode X2 six days apart lost consciousness and underwent surgery for similar brain hemorrhages. Three neurosurgeons who treated them said the severe injuries resulted from a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced on the ride. Six Flags’ attorneys have disputed claims that the ride’s forces could injure a normal rider when used as instructed.

How many X2 injury claims have been reported?

ABC 7, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, said three lawsuits were filed in the weeks after CNN’s investigation. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said more than 100 additional people had come forward with injury claims. Six Flags has previously said X2 was regularly tested, met industry safety regulations and carried signage warning riders about inherent risks.