Six Flags Permanently Closes X2 Roller Coaster After Over 100 Brain Injury Claims

Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has permanently closed its X2 roller coaster, citing a decision to "do the right thing" after a significant number of lawsuits alleging brain injuries. Park president Brian Oerding stated that the ride, despite passing safety tests, would cease operations due to the legal claims.

The X2 coaster has been shut down since July, following incidents where two women required hospitalization shortly after riding. One rider, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, reportedly underwent emergency brain surgery and remains in a vegetative state. Her family is among three who filed lawsuits last week, with attorneys claiming over 100 individuals have reported brain injuries associated with the ride in the past two years.

In August, Six Flags reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Christopher Hawley, 22, who died the day after riding X2 in 2022. Introduced in 2002, the X2 was marketed as the world's first "fourth-dimension" coaster, featuring seats that rotate 360 degrees at speeds up to 76 mph.

The permanent closure of the X2 attraction reflects the park operator's response to mounting legal pressure and safety concerns surrounding the ride.