X2 Roller Coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain Permanently Closes After Years of Safety Lawsuits

X2, the high-intensity roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California that became the subject of multiple injury lawsuits, including at least two wrongful death cases, is permanently closing, the theme park announced Tuesday.

The coaster, located at the Valencia park north of Los Angeles, had been out of operation since July amid renewed scrutiny over allegations that riders suffered serious brain injuries after experiencing the attraction.

Six Flags Retires X2 After More Than Two Decades

X2 stood about 200 feet tall and reached speeds of up to 76 mph. Riders experienced forces of as much as four times gravity while navigating inversions, drops and twists.

The attraction was classified as a “fourth-dimension” roller coaster because its seats rotated independently of the train as it traveled along the track. Riders could rotate as much as 360 degrees during the experience.

The original coaster opened as X in 2002 and was redesigned and renamed X2 in 2008. Six Flags said more than 16 million people had ridden X2 since the redesign.

Brian Oerding, president of Six Flags Magic Mountain, announced the attraction’s retirement in a company blog post.

“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,” Oerding said. “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”

Lawsuits Alleged Serious Brain Injuries

The permanent closure comes eight days after three people sued Six Flags and S&S Worldwide, the company that manufactured X2’s train cars. The plaintiffs alleged they suffered catastrophic brain injuries after riding the coaster.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health had also begun an inquiry into the attraction.

Over the years, lawsuits have alleged links between rides on X2 and cerebral hemorrhages and other traumatic brain injuries.

Family of 22-Year-Old Settled Lawsuit in August

The closure follows an undisclosed settlement reached in late August between Six Flags and the family of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate who died one day after riding X2 in June 2022.

The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial this month in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

According to his family’s lawsuit, Hawley lost consciousness after leaving the attraction. His family alleged that the ride caused a catastrophic right subdural hematoma.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office determined that Hawley died from blunt head trauma and classified his death as accidental.

In a statement provided by Wisner Baum, the law firm representing the family, Hawley’s mother, Anne Hawley, welcomed the decision to permanently close X2.

“This ride should have been closed long before our son Christopher was injured, and it certainly should have been closed after he died,” she said. “Instead, it took more than four years and dozens of other injured riders for Six Flags to do the right thing.”

S&S Worldwide also settled the family’s lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. The company did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday regarding the closure or the safety allegations.

Six Flags and Manufacturer Disputed Injury Claims

In court filings, Six Flags and S&S Worldwide disputed allegations that the coaster caused Hawley’s death.

The companies argued that Hawley had a pre-existing arachnoid cyst in his brain that ruptured and caused bleeding. They also said X2 had passed industry-standard acceleration testing in 2008, 2018 and 2023.

Another death associated with a ride on X2 occurred in October 2010, when 28-year-old Hilda Farias died after riding the coaster. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office identified the cause of death as an acute cerebellar hemorrhage.

The allegations surrounding X2 have placed increased attention on the physical forces generated by extreme thrill rides and how potential medical risks are communicated to guests.

X2’s Run at Magic Mountain Comes to an End

For more than two decades, X2 was among the most recognizable thrill rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain, a Southern California amusement park known for its extensive roller coaster lineup.

Its unusual rotating-seat design helped distinguish it from conventional coasters, but the attraction also became the focus of persistent legal and safety scrutiny.

With Six Flags now confirming that X2 will not reopen, the coaster’s run has officially ended after millions of rides and years of debate over its safety.

Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway is a contributor at Thecherawchronicle.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and issues that matter to their communities. His work emphasizes accuracy, relevance, and accessibility, bringing readers timely stories and practical insights in a straightforward and engaging way.