Six Flags Magic Mountain has announced it will permanently close the popular rollercoaster X2, one of the park’s main attractions known for its long wait times and seats that rotate 360 degrees. The ride has been closed since July, with the park citing the ride’s passage through safety tests as the reason, but ultimately deciding to withdraw it as 'the right thing to do'.
The decision follows lawsuits and media reports alleging that riders suffered brain injuries following the X2 ride. More than 100 riders have claimed to have suffered brain injuries. The president of Six Flags Magic Mountain, Brian Oerding, stated: 'The safety of the ride is the cornerstone of our business, and when we see that guest confidence is affected, we take it seriously.'
The law firm Dordick Law Corporation, which filed civil lawsuits against the park, stated that it had been contacted by approximately 400 people claiming to have injuries they believed were caused by the ride. In a statement, they said: 'They entered X2 expecting excitement. Instead, they left with catastrophic brain injuries.' They added that some required emergency brain surgery, while others were still fighting to restore their lives. While welcoming the closure of the ride to protect future guests, they noted that 'this does nothing for the people already injured'.
The ride was originally named X and first opened in 2002, but was closed months later due to design flaws, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was closed again in 2007 to replace its trains with lighter versions, and reopened the following year as X2. Since then, more than 16 million people have ridden X2, the park said.
The law firm representing the family of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who died after riding X in 2022, stated that the closure was not enough. Brent Wisner of Wisner Law LLP told the BBC: 'The Hawley family was relieved to hear that Six Flags is finally closing X, but it does not change the fact that Christopher Hawley was killed by a dangerous rollercoaster that was allowed to operate for nearly two decades.' The family settled their wrongful death lawsuit with the theme park in August.
Wisner said that 'this tragedy cannot be undone', calling for legal reform, proactive regulation, and appropriate government oversight. He added: 'We cannot rely on profit-driven corporations to do the right thing only after enough people have been injured.' He concluded: 'We hope that whatever replaces X will be safe.'
