Six Flags Permanently Retires X2 Roller Coaster Following Brain Injury Allegations

Six Flags announced Tuesday that it will permanently close the X2 roller coaster at its Magic Mountain park in Valencia, California, citing a growing number of allegations linking the ride to severe brain injuries. The decision follows a wave of legal actions filed in late September by three individuals who claim they suffered brain damage after riding the attraction.

Brian Oerding, president of Magic Mountain, stated in a blog post that the company made the choice “because we believe it’s the right thing to do,” despite the ride having passed all safety inspections. “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously,” he wrote, confirming the retirement of the ride after nearly two decades of operation.

The closure comes in the wake of a CNN investigation published in August, which examined a history of incidents associated with the coaster, including at least two fatalities. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs told CNN that more than 100 people have come forward with similar injury claims.

Recently, two women were hospitalized six days apart in July 2026 after riding X2. Both were diagnosed with subdural hematomas, a type of bleeding on the brain. The first patient, a 40-year-old woman, underwent emergency surgery and remained unconscious for two weeks, later requiring rehabilitation to relearn how to walk and talk. Her surgeon described her survival as “very lucky.” The second patient, a 26-year-old woman, also underwent surgery and remained in a coma, according to the news outlet.

X2, which debuted in 2002, reached speeds of 76 mph over its 3,610-foot track. Distinguished as a “fifth-dimension wing roller coaster,” the ride featured seats mounted on wings flanking the track rather than directly on it, allowing riders to rotate 360 degrees while suspended. Six Flags initially suspended the ride indefinitely on July 12 before making the closure permanent at the end of September. The company has declined to provide additional details beyond stating the ride remains closed.

Experts warn that the intense physical forces generated by extreme coasters can stretch and tear brain tissue and blood vessels, increasing the risk of concussions and intracranial bleeding. Lyndia Wu, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia who specializes in brain injury mechanics, noted that head motion during rapid acceleration or direction changes can amplify shearing forces.

“Brain tissue has very low rigidity, so it is prone to shearing and twisting during head motion,” Wu explained. “The tissue shearing and twisting can be amplified when the head rapidly accelerates or decelerates… Blood vessels can also be experiencing stretching and twisting, posing risks of rupture and bleeding.｣

Medical professionals highlight that children face heightened risks due to their smaller size and disproportionately larger heads. Dr. Michael McDowell of Penn State Hershey Medical Center described the pediatric head and neck as resembling “a bowling ball on a toothpick,” noting that high-energy turns can snap the head in directions that stretch the neck beyond normal limits.

The X2 incident is part of a broader historical context of roller coaster safety concerns. Brian Avery, a faculty member at the University of Florida who teaches legal and risk management in the entertainment industry, pointed to the Flip Flap Railway, a 1895 wooden coaster notorious for dangerous G-forces that closed by 1902. The modern era saw a “roller coaster arms race” starting in the late 20th century, with designers pushing for taller and faster tracks.

While G-force calculations are standard during design, Wu emphasized that these metrics only apply to whole-body acceleration at the seat level, whereas the head may experience different, more dangerous acceleration profiles. Avery suggested that the industry must address public perception, arguing that even if a ride can be technically corrected, the damage to its reputation may already be irreversible.