Six Flags Closes X2
Six Flags permanently closes the X2 roller coaster following severe injury lawsuits and safety concerns.
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Key Points
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The coaster first opened as X in 2002, was taken out of service for major updates in 2007, and reopened as X2 in 2008. Its 3,600-foot track included a 215-foot opening drop and reached speeds of 76 mph.
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Six Flags said X2 had welcomed more than 16 million guests since opening in 2008 and had built a passionate following among coaster enthusiasts.
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Lawsuits alleging brain injuries name not only Six Flags but also X2 seat manufacturer S&S Worldwide.
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CNN reported that Pamela Guillen underwent emergency brain surgery and had to relearn how to walk and talk; another rider, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, was reported to be in a coma.
Six Flags Magic Mountain permanently closed X2, its signature 4D roller coaster, after a series of serious head injuries and a CNN investigation exposed safety concerns. Carrier Management reports the park retired the ride due to lawsuits alleging brain injuries caused by the high-speed coaster. Arash Law notes more than 100 brain injury claims have been filed against Six Flags and the ride's manufacturer, S&S Worldwide.
Park president Brian Oerding said the company decided closure was right after guest confidence became a concern. The Guardian reports Oerding stated: "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." The coaster had operated since 2008 and hosted more than 16 million guests.
A Ride That Spun Out of Control
X2 opened in 2002 as X before closing months later due to design flaws. Los Angeles Times reports it was shut down in 2007 for major train redesigns and reopened in 2008 as X2. The 3,600-foot track featured a 215-foot opening drop and reached speeds of 76 mph. The ride's defining feature was independent seat rotation up to 360 degrees while riders whipped through turns at extreme speeds.
The ride became a favorite among coaster enthusiasts but proved dangerous. TIME reports neurologists explained that extreme G-forces, sudden acceleration, violent twisting, and rapid direction changes stretched brain tissue and blood vessels. This created high risks for concussions and subdural hematomas — bleeding inside the brain that requires emergency surgery.
Emergency Surgeries and Serious Injuries
In July 2026, two riders suffered catastrophic brain injuries within days. Fox Business reports Pamela Guillen, 40, rode X2 on July 5 and suffered a subdural hematoma requiring emergency brain surgery. She had to relearn how to walk and talk. Four days later, rider Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and fell into a coma.
A previous death also haunted the ride. Fox Business reports 22-year-old Christopher Hawley died in June 2022 after suffering blunt-force trauma on X2. His mother, Anne Hawley, told Los Angeles Times: "We have tried for four years to do the best we can to spread awareness... They finally listened." Six Flags settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with his family in August 2026.
Investigation and Lawsuits Mount Against Six Flags
After the back-to-back hospitalizations in July, Six Flags closed X2 indefinitely. BBC reports California workplace-safety officials began a formal inquiry into the injuries. CNN published an investigative report detailing injuries and deaths linked to the ride. Arash Law notes attorneys filed more than 100 brain injury claims and are preparing additional lawsuits.
Lawsuits name both Six Flags and ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide. The Guardian reports attorneys Christopher Bulone and Gary Dordick accused Six Flags of operating a defective ride and failing to warn guests about head and brain injury risks. Quartz notes lawyers representing injured riders say more people are considering filing claims. Six Flags later announced the permanent closure as the only path forward.
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